High-value Products Research Articles

Thermochemical Valorization of Plastic Waste Containing Low Density Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride and Polyvinyl Butyral into Thermal and Fuel Energy

Pyrolysis is a promising technology for transforming waste plastics (WPs) into high-value products. In the near future it will play a key role in the circular economy, as a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of managing this waste. Although the literature reports on the pyrolysis of plastics, it is focused on pure polymers. On the other hand, the state-of-the-art knowledge about the pyrolysis of mixed and contaminated WPs is still scarce. Industrial waste processing usually uses polymer mixtures containing various impurities that influence the pyrolysis process during chemical WPs recycling. In the paper the pyrolysis of three types of WPs: low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) from repeated mechanical recycling of plastics, as well as their binary and ternary mixtures, is considered. The influence of particular components on the pyrolysis process is analyzed. The aim is to determine synergistic behavior of the mixtures during the pyrolysis process, which is important for increasing the efficiency and quality of the obtained bioproducts. Methods such as thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectroscopy (MS) are used. The variations in the initial and final temperature of pyrolysis, mass loss and mass loss rate are determined. The content of PVC significantly lowers the initial temperature and mass loss and increases the final temperature. The pyrolysis of the considered mixtures shows a noticeable synergism—in the initial stage of pyrolysis up to a temperature around 450 °C, the mass loss is accelerated compared to what is predicted by simple superposition. The inhomogeneity of the mixtures as well as the waste origin causes a significant variation in the activation energy. Three main conclusions are obtained: (i) if the waste does not contain PVC, the pyrolysis is nearly complete at a temperature around 500 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min, whereas PVC is not fully processed even at 995 °C; (ii) the synergistic effects affect significantly the pyrolysis process by accelerating some steps and lowering the activation energy; and (iii) the presence of PVC noticeably lowers the temperature of the first stage of PVB pyrolysis. The investigation results prove that chemical recycling of mixed LDPE, PVC and PVB waste can be an effective method of plastic waste management.

Exploring the Health Benefits of Boletus aereus Polysaccharides: Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Antiproliferative Properties against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHLs).

Boletus aereus Fr. ex Bull. stands out as a delectable edible mushroom with high nutritional and medicinal values, featuring polysaccharides as its primary nutrient composition. In our continuous exploration of its beneficial substances, a novel polysaccharide (BAPN-1) with a molecular weight of 2279 kDa was prepared. It was identified as a glucan with a backbone composed of the residues →4)-α-Glcp-(1→ and →4,6)-α-Glcp-(1→ connected in a proportion of 5:1 and a β-Glcp-(1→ side residue attached at C6 of the →4,6)-α-Glcp-(1→ residue. Biologically, BAPN-1 exhibited broad-spectrum antiproliferative activities against various NHL cells, including HuT-78, OCI-LY1, OCI-LY18, Jurkat, RL, and Karpas-299, with IC50 values of 0.73, 1.21, 3.18, 1.52, 3.34, and 4.25 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, BAPN-1 significantly induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and caused apoptosis of NHL cells. Mechanistically, bulk RNA sequencing and Western blot analysis revealed that BAPN-1 could upregulate cyclin B1 and enhance cleaved caspase-9 expression through the inhibition of FGFR3 and RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathways. This work supports the improved utilization of B. aereus in high-value health products.

Upcycling process of mill scale waste into high-value ceramic products

Ceramic industry consumes large amounts of raw materials, including costly and environmental impact iron based-pigments. Steel rolling (SR) and wire drawing (WD) waste, rich in iron (>67 wt %), present a viable alternative. This study aims to develop high value stoneware pastes for tableware products by substituting commercial pigments with SR and WD. The influence of incorporation content (3, 5 and 10 wt %) and pre-treatments (sieving at 250, 150 and 63 μm, and grinding followed by sieving at 63 μm) on the samples properties was assessed including weight loss, firing shrinkage, apparent density, flexural resistance, and water absorption. The laboratory scale results revealed that darker hues, ranging from grey to reddish, were obtained when SR and WD were incorporated in the stoneware paste (beige colour). The smaller the particle size, more homogeneous is the developed colour, which is intensified as higher is the incorporation level.The prototypes (plates) were characterized in terms of thermal shock, edge impact, cracking and microwaves resistance, water absorption, and leaching behaviour, demonstrating that they met the industrial requirements. Thermal shock resistance was enhanced and the levels of leached Fe, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mo, V, Zn, and Cu, were below permissible limits (EU Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC, Decree-Law n°152/2017, Decree-Law n°236/98 and WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality) confirming their effective immobilization. Concluding, this work shows the viability of using mill scale waste as a valuable secondary raw material in stoneware pastes acting as a chromophore agent. Dark colours are obtained while preserving the product technical characteristics, promoting sustainable production and reducing landfilled waste.

High-Tech Sustainable Beauty: Exploring Nanotechnology for the Development of Cosmetics Using Plant and Animal By-Products

In a world increasingly focused on eco-conscious living, the cosmetic industry is actively adopting nanotechnology to transform plant and animal by-products into high-value beauty products. This comprehensive review explores the innovative and sustainable approaches for extracting and utilizing bioactive compounds from these by-products. The application of nanocarrier systems is highlighted for their role in enhancing the delivery efficacy and safety of these ingredients in skincare and beauty products. Consumer demand and environmental concerns drive the shift towards natural and sustainable cosmetic products. Traditional cosmetic production often involves significant ecological impacts, prompting the industry to seek greener alternatives. This review addresses the critical need for sustainable beauty solutions that align with global sustainability goals, particularly those outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The review provides valuable insights into current trends and future directions in sustainable cosmetics by focusing on nanotechnology and by-products. The review uniquely integrates nanotechnology with sustainability practices in the cosmetic industry. It details the benefits of using nanocarriers to improve the stability, bioavailability, and efficacy of bioactive compounds derived from natural waste. This intersection of high-tech methodologies and sustainability offers a novel perspective on cosmetic innovation. Future research should focus on overcoming the technical, regulatory, and economic challenges of scaling up nanotechnology applications. Investigations should include the development of transparent supply chains, standardization methods for characterizing nanoparticles, and comprehensive lifecycle assessments to ensure environmental safety. Additionally, fostering collaboration between scientific research, industry practices, and consumer education is vital for advancing sustainable practices. This review contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable beauty by presenting a clear pathway for integrating these innovative approaches. It ensures that future cosmetic products meet consumer expectations for efficacy and safety and promote environmental stewardship and a circular economy, ultimately benefiting both the skin and the planet.

Upgrading lignocellulosic biomass to high-value products through the pretreatment driven by bio-based ethylene glycol solvent

Sustainable processing of lignocellulosic biomass is meaningful for comprehensive biomass conversion. Here, a ball milling (BM) assisted biomass-derived ethylene glycol (BEG) pretreatment is proposed to removes nearly 90 % of the lignin and increases cellulose accessibility by 3 times than raw biomass, facilitating subsequent enzymatic saccharification or catalytic conversion for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), achieving yields of 92.9 % and 32.6 %. The synergistic effect of BM/BEG positively impacted delignification, followed by saccharification and HMF conversion. Introduction of biomass-derived solvent recovers the lignin with a well-preserved chemical structure, uniform molecular weight, short side chains, and high purity, making it highly suitable for downstream utilization. Density functional theory revealed hydrogen bonding and good miscibility between BEG and lignin units, suggesting reaction mechanisms and pathways. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the solubilizing effect of BEG on lignin promoted cellulase-cellulose binding, thereby enhancing saccharification efficiency. The successful use of BEG solvents to maximize the biomass value is conducive to achieve closed-loop biorefinery approaches.

Low-dose ionizing radiation generates a hormetic response to modify lipid metabolism in Chlorella sorokiniana

Algal biomass is a viable source of chemicals and metabolites for various energy, nutritional, medicinal and agricultural uses. While stresses have commonly been used to induce metabolite accumulation in microalgae in attempts to enhance high-value product yields, this is often very detrimental to growth. Therefore, understanding how to modify metabolism without deleterious consequences is highly beneficial. We demonstrate that low-doses (1–5 Gy) of ionizing radiation in the X-ray range induces a non-toxic, hormetic response in microalgae to promote metabolic activation. We identify specific radiation exposure parameters that give reproducible metabolic responses in Chlorella sorokiniana caused by transcriptional changes. This includes up-regulation of >30 lipid metabolism genes, such as genes encoding an acetyl-CoA carboxylase subunit, phosphatidic acid phosphatase, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase. The outcome is an increased lipid yield in stationary phase cultures by 25% in just 24 hours, without any negative effects on cell viability or biomass.

Unlocking Efficient Hydrogen Production: Nucleophilic Oxidation Reactions Coupled with Water Splitting.

Electrocatalytic water splitting driven by sustainable energy is a clean and promising water-chemical fuel conversion technology for the production of high-purity green hydrogen. However, the sluggish kinetics of anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) pose challenges for large-scale hydrogen production, limiting its efficiency and safety. Recently, the anodic OER has been replaced by a nucleophilic oxidation reaction (NOR) with biomass as the substrate and coupled with a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which has attracted great interest. Anode NOR offers faster kinetics, generates high-value products, and reduces energy consumption. By coupling NOR with hydrogen evolution reaction, hydrogen production efficiency can be enhanced while yielding high-value oxidation products or degrading pollutants. Therefore, NOR-coupled HER hydrogen production is another new green electrolytic hydrogen production strategy after electrolytic water hydrogen production, which is of great significance for realizing sustainable energy development and global decarbonization. This review explores the potential of nucleophilic oxidation reactions as an alternative to OER and delves into NOR mechanisms, guiding future research in NOR-coupled hydrogen production. It assesses different NOR-coupled production methods, analyzing reaction pathways and catalyst effects. Furthermore, it evaluates the role of electrolyzers in industrialized NOR-coupled hydrogen production and discusses future prospects and challenges. This comprehensive review aims to advance efficient and economical large-scale hydrogen production.

Al-doped oxide-derived copper catalyst with stable Cu+ site for efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to C2H4

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (ECO2RR), a pivotal process converting CO2 into high-value products, plays a crucial role in advancing objectives of carbon neutrality. Within various catalysts, copper-based electrocatalysts hold a unique position as they demonstrate a remarkable aptitude for producing high-carbon (C2+) products. Notably, the well-established Cu+ sites exhibit robust C-C coupling capabilities, particularly in the synthesis of C2H4 products. However, the challenge lies in maintaining the stability of oxide-derived copper under the negative potential operating conditions. In light of this, we use the ion exchange principle to make Al partially replace Cu-BDC, and then get a dopant by high temperature calcination to prepare Al-doped CuO catalyst. It has been demonstrated that the introduction of oxyphilic Al atoms could induce the redistribution of electrons in the CuO matrix and stabilize the presence of Cu+ in the ECO2RR process. This configuration significantly enhances the catalytic performance of CuO for electrochemically converting CO2 into C2H4. Specifically, the optimized Al-CuO catalyst exhibits ∼50 % Faradaic Efficiency for C2H4 (FEC2H4) at −1.377 V vs. RHE, doubling the performance compared to pure CuO. The design and implementation of doping engineering presented in this work propel advancements in the field of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction for C2H4 production, offering a crucial avenue for the development of efficient catalysts.

Menggali Potensi Daerah Dengan Pengembangan Potensi Kesenian Serta Edukasi Wisata Melalui Program KKNT di Desa Carangwulung

Every country has distinctive characteristics that become selling points in terms of economy and infrastructure, including small regions such as districts, sub-districts, villages, and hamlets that need to be developed to be more widely known. These distinctive values, including natural potential, plantation products, micro-businesses, tourism sectors, and arts, are important for regional existence. Carangwulung Village in Wonosalam Sub-district, Jombang Regency, has high natural potential such as durian, salak and coffee. Located in the highlands, the village excels in plantations. The tourism sector stands out with its beautiful environment and friendly people, making it an ideal destination for tourists. Plantation products are processed into high-value products through MSME businesses that prioritize quality. Arts potential, such as Gamelan, Jaranan, and Remo Dance, are also preserved. The community service program focused on the development of arts and tourism in Carangwulung Village, including the "Selepas Senja" art performance and tourism. The research used a qualitative descriptive methodology, collecting data through observation, interviews and FGDs. The findings show the importance of preserving and promoting local coffee culture and traditional arts to attract tourists. The eco-tour involved 10 UPN "Veteran" East Java students and the local community.

Challenges Faced by The Chemical Industry in Strengthening the Bioeconomy in Brazil

Objective: This study aims to discuss the chemical industry's role in developing new bioeconomic systems in Brazil. Theoretical Framework: The bioeconomy provides significant opportunities for Brazil. By exploring the country's biodiversity and environmental resources, bioeconomic systems can drive the development of innovative technologies and high-value products across various sectors. Additionally, the bioeconomy plays a crucial role in generating quality employment and preserving ecosystems. Achieving this optimistic scenario depends on the efforts of the Brazilian chemical industry in research and development (R&D). Method: This research is documental and descriptive. We reviewed several sectoral reports focusing on the obstacles to using renewable inputs from Brazilian biodiversity in the chemical sector's value chains. Results and Discussion: Brazil's bioeconomy systems face limited R&D investments due to structural bottlenecks related to the national tax system, logistical infrastructure, and high energy costs. These issues have reduced the competitiveness of the Brazilian chemical industry. Furthermore, increased imports of Chinese chemical products following the Ukraine War and the subsequent industry idleness can exacerbate these structural constraints and further erode the chemical sector's R&D funds. Research Implications: The structural problems described in this article can delay the development of renewable energy sources and innovative bioproducts. Originality/Value: We show that the chemical industry possesses the technology and scale necessary to integrate into Federal Government programs in the bioeconomy field. However, the sector's structural problems and low R&D investments tend to inhibit the development of new bioeconomic systems. Brazil must overcome these challenges to establish itself as a global bioeconomy powerhouse.

High-Throughput Metabolite Analysis of Unicellular Microalgae by Orthogonal Hybrid Ionization Label-Free Mass Cytometry.

Microalgae metabolite analysis is fundamental for the rational design of metabolic engineering strategies for the biosynthesis of high-value products. Mass spectrometry (MS) has been utilized for single-cell microalgae analysis. However, limitations in the detection throughput and polarities of detectable substances make it difficult to realize high-throughput screening of high-performance microalgae. Herein, a plasma-assisted label-free mass cytometry, named as PACyESI-MS, was proposed combining the advantages of orthogonal hybrid ionization and high-throughput MS analysis, which realized rapid metabolite detection of single microalgae. The cell detection throughput of PACyESI-MS was up to 52 cells/min. Dozens of the critical primary and secondary metabolites within single microalgae were detected simultaneously, including pigments, lipids, and energy metabolites. Furthermore, metabolite changes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Haematococcus pluvialis under nitrogen deficiency stress were studied. Discrimination of Chlamydomonas under different nutrient conditions was realized using single-cell metabolite profiles obtained by PACyESI-MS. The relationships between the accumulation of bioactive astaxanthin and changes in functional primary metabolites of Haematococcus were investigated. It was demonstrated that PACyESI-MS can detect the flexible change of metabolites in single microalgae cells under different nutritional conditions and during the synthesis of high-value products, which is expected to become an important tool for the design of metabolic engineering-based high-performance microalgae factories.

Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis for the Geographic Origin Discrimination of Greek Beans "Gigantes-Elefantes" (Phaseolus coccineus L.).

Adulteration of high-value agricultural products is a critical issue worldwide for consumers and industries. Discrimination of the geographical origin can verify food authenticity by reducing risk and detecting adulteration. Between agricultural products, beans are a very important crop cultivated worldwide that provides food rich in iron and vitamins, especially for people in third-world countries. The aim of this study is the construction of a map of the locally characteristic isotopic fingerprint of giant beans, "Fasolia Gigantes-Elefantes PGI", a Protected Geographical Indication product cultivated in the region of Kastoria and Prespes, Western Macedonia, Greece, with the ultimate goal of the discrimination of beans from the two areas. In total, 160 samples were collected from different fields in the Prespes region and 120 samples from Kastoria during each cultivation period (2020-2021 and 2021-2022). The light element (C, N, and S) isotope ratios were measured using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), and the results obtained were analyzed using chemometric techniques, including a one-way ANOVA and Binomial logistic regression. The mean values from the one-way ANOVA were δ15NAIR = 1.875‱, δ13CV-PDB = -25.483‱, and δ34SV-CDT = 4.779‱ for Kastoria and δ15NAIR = 1.654‱, δ13CV-PDB = -25.928‱, and δ34SV-CDT = -0.174‱ for Prespes, and showed that stable isotope ratios of C and S were statistically different for the areas studied while the Binomial logistic regression analysis that followed correctly classified more than 78% of the samples.

Pruned tea biomass plays a significant role in functional food production: A review on characterization and comprehensive utilization of abandon-plucked fresh tea leaves.

Tea is the second largest nonalcoholic beverage in the world due to its characteristic flavor and well-known functional properties in vitro and in vivo. Global tea production reaches 6.397 million tons in 2022 and continues to rise. Fresh tea leaves are mainly harvested in spring, whereas thousands of tons are discarded in summer and autumn. Herein, pruned tea biomass refers to abandon-plucked leaves being pruned in the non-plucking period, especially in summer and autumn. At present, no relevant concluding remarks have been made on this undervalued biomass. This review summarizes the seasonal differences of intrinsic metabolites and pays special attention to the most critical bioactive and flavor compounds, including polyphenols, theanine, and caffeine. Additionally, meaningful and profound methods to transform abandon-plucked fresh tea leaves into high-value products are reviewed. In summer and autumn, tea plants accumulate much more phenols than in spring, especially epigallocatechin gallate (galloyl catechin), anthocyanins (catechin derivatives), and proanthocyanidins (polymerized catechins). Vigorous carbon metabolism induced by high light intensity and temperature in summer and autumn also accumulates carbohydrates, such as soluble sugars and cellulose. The characteristics of abandon-plucked tea leaves make them not ideal raw materials for tea, but suitable for novel tea products like beverages and food ingredients using traditional or hybrid technologies such as enzymatic transformation, microbial fermentation, formula screening, and extraction, with the abundant polyphenols in summer and autumn tea serving as prominent flavor and bioactive contributors.

Enhanced hydrolysis of waste activated sludge and recovery of volatile fatty acids: Performance and mechanistic analysis of synergistic treatment with sodium citrate and calcium oxide

Anaerobic fermentation has emerged as a promising method of transforming waste activated sludge into high-value products (e.g., volatile fatty acids (VFAs)). This work developed sodium citrate (SC)-calcium oxide (CaO) pretreatment to accelerate the production of VFAs by enhancing sludge solubilization and disintegration of extracellular polymeric substances. The results showed that co-pretreatment with 0.25 g/g TSS of SC and 0.05 g/g TSS of CaO effectively boosted VFAs accumulation (5823.3 mg COD/L), which was 12.2 times higher than the Control group. SC-CaO pretreatment enhanced hydrolysis and acidogenesis by providing ample organic substrates, thereby promoting the growth of hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria. Additionally, the fermentation broth resulting from co-pretreatment exhibited lower phosphorus concentration and higher biodegradability. Economic analysis confirmed that the combined pretreatment is cost-effective. This work provides a viable strategy for enhancing high-value product recovery from sludge.

Biochar and syngas from wet torrefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunches and palm oil mill effluent: A renewable energy approach

Abstract Palm oil mill effluent (POME) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) constitute the highest waste generated in the mill. This study investigates thermochemical approaches, specifically wet torrefaction and gasification, aiming to transform these wastes into higher-value products such as biochar. Wet torrefaction was initially applied to EFB and POME at 200 °C, with a heating rate of 5 °C/min for 30-min residence time under nitrogen-inert conditions, resulting in a solid yield of 82%. This process led to a notable increase in the heating value of raw EFB by 30.6%, from 17.3 to 22.6 MJ/kg. Subsequently, the product underwent gasification at various temperatures ranging from 600 to 800 °C, with a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min, gas flow rate of 20 ml/min, and a retention time of 30 min. The gasification reaction improved the solid yield and resulted in the generation of liquid products and syngas. The results indicated that 45-59% of biochar, 12-17% of bio-oil, and 30-39% of syngas were produced. The syngas composition, determined using gas chromatography, revealed the presence of CO2, H2, CH4, and CO. The solid product, characterised by a higher heating value, is a viable alternative for solid fuel. The findings suggested that both wet torrefaction and the gasification process have the potential to address the abundance of palm mill waste issues and offer an alternative approach for utilising and generating energy within the mill.

An integrated airlift loop reactor for continuous production of calcium carbonate from phosphogypsum using a one-step method

Commercial exploitations of phosphogypsum and CO2 are the research hotspots and difficulties. A coupled reaction and separation airlift loop reactor, which integrates four consecutive processes (i.e., dissolution of slightly soluble raw material, impurity separation, product preparation, and product separation) for reactive crystallization, was proposed to continuously prepare high-value products (i.e., (NH4)2SO4 and nano-sized CaCO3) using waste to treat waste (i.e., phosphogypsum and CO2) at ambient conditions by a one-step method. The technical feasibilities of the coupled reactor were verified, and principal influencing factors on the CaCO3 product quality were systematically investigated and optimized. Additionally, the coupled fluid hydrodynamics dependent on the two individual airlift loop reactors were also inspected. This work shed some new light on the practical resource utilization of phosphogypsum and waste CO2 in tandem at a low cost, and a solid basis for the rational design, optimization, and scale-up of such promising reactors was provided.

Directed Evolution of Protein-Based Sensors for Anaerobic Biological Activation of Methane.

Microbial alkane degradation pathways provide biological routes for converting these hydrocarbons into higher-value products. We recently reported the functional expression of a methyl-alkylsuccinate synthase (Mas) system in Escherichia coli, allowing for the heterologous anaerobic activation of short-chain alkanes. However, the enzymatic activation of methane via natural or engineered alkylsuccinate synthases has yet to be reported. To address this, we employed high-throughput screening to engineer the itaconate (IA)-responsive regulatory protein ItcR (WT-ItcR) from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis to instead respond to methylsuccinate (MS, the product of methane addition to fumarate), resulting in genetically encoded biosensors for MS. Here, we describe ItcR variants that, when regulating fluorescent protein expression in E. coli, show increased sensitivity, improved overall response, and enhanced specificity toward exogenously added MS relative to the wild-type repressor. Structural modeling and analysis of the ItcR ligand binding pocket provide insights into the altered molecular recognition. In addition to serving as biosensors for screening alkylsuccinate synthases capable of methane activation, MS-responsive ItcR variants also establish a framework for the directed evolution of other molecular reporters, targeting longer-chain alkylsuccinate products or other succinate derivatives.

Research on isolation, identification, and determination of suitable conditions for the cultivation of albino <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> SHBTD fruiting bodies

Cordyceps militaris is a valuable fungus that is well-known in many Asian countries. The fruiting bodies of C. militaris are commonly used in traditional medicine and the production of functional foods. Currently, C. militaris mushrooms are being cultivated on a large scale in Vietnam, yielding the characteristic yellow-orange fruiting bodies typical of C. militaris. In the mushroom cultivation industry, C. militaris is one of the most highly valued species. The yield and quality of the fruiting bodies are greatly dependant on the strain source. Therefore, the search for new strains of C. militaris with high productivity, quality, and uniqueness is always of interest to scientists. This study has isolated and identified the albino strain C. militaris SHBTD based on morphological characteristics and the rDNA ITS region gene sequence. The optimal conditions for fruiting body formation of the SHBTD strain are MT6 medium, a temperature of 22°C, a humidity of 90%, a light intensity of 500 lux (12 hours/day), and 65 days of cultivation. Additionally, this study determined that the albino strain C. militaris SHBDT carrying the single Mating-type (MAT) gene (MAT1-1-1), could provide stable yield and quality of fruiting bodies over 5 consecutive cultivation generations. The obtained results demonstrate the potential applications of the C. militaris SHBTD in the industrial-scale production of unique and high-value mushroom products.

Recovery of high-quality iron phosphate from acid-leaching tailings of laterite nickel ore

Laterite nickel ore is rich in nickel and iron resources, and the nickel element is extracted in the form of nickel salt. However, the acid-leaching tailings of laterite nickel ore (LTLNO), which contain valuable iron resources, have not been cost-effectively recovered. In this work, we designed a novel method to extract iron from LTLNO and recycle it into high-valuable iron phosphate products using only phosphoric acid and iron powder. We explored the effects of reaction parameters, such as phosphoric acid concentration, iron powder dosage, time, and temperature, on the leaching behavior of key elements. The results showed that the iron leaching rate was as high as 96.54 % when using 3.5 mol/L phosphoric acid with a liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S) of 5 mL/g and an iron powder dosage based on the Fe/Fen+ ratio of 0.5 after 3 h at 25 °C, and a final high-purity FePO4 (99.4 %) was obtained. Kinetic analysis revealed that the leaching reaction was controlled by the diffusion through the neogenetic layer, and the leaching reactions were thermodynamically favorable. This method allows for a simpler and more efficient recovery of iron and the products of higher-value iron phosphate products than other LTLNO recycling technologies. Additionally, it offers a total economic benefit of $134/t for LTLNO treatment, demonstrating great prospects for industrial application.

Enzyme induced polymer degradation as a pathway to create microbial habitats for biomanufacturing intensification

Polymer hydrogels are instrumental in cell immobilization for biomanufacturing, yet traditional hydrogel bioreactors often compromise cell viability, function, and mass transfer. This results in uncontrolled microbial proliferation and significant cell leakage, thereby impeding the continuous production of high-value products. To address these challenges, we introduce an innovative liquid microcavity technique employing a blend of Gelatin-methacryloyl (Gel-MA) and Pluronic F127diacrylate (F127-DA) for precision bioprinting, followed by selective enzymatic digestion of gelatin to create microbial habitats. Through tailoring of the hydrogel’s pore structure and integration of diverse networks, our approach facilitates controlled nutrient transfer, efficient waste removal, and stable mechanical support, all while maintaining a leak-free suspension culture of microorganisms. We validated the effectiveness of our method by fabricating yeast-infused Three-dimensional (3D) lattice constructs, successfully achieving continuous fermentation of glucose into ethanol in a flow reactor with minimal efficiency reduction (≥90 % yield) over five cycles. This research not only confronts the spatial limitations inherent in hydrogel-based systems but also demonstrates a foundational potential for revolutionary change in biomanufacturing practices.