Main By-product Research Articles

Comprehensive experimental study of microbial respiration during self-heating in biomass storage piles

As a critical renewable energy source, biomass has substantial potential for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development. However, its long-term storage in large volumes for modern bioenergy poses challenges due to inherent self-heating driven by exothermic microbial, physical and chemical processes, which can lead to spontaneous ignition and severe fire incidents. While physical and chemical aspects of self-heating in biomass piles greatly benefit from extensive research and experience borrowed from coal pile self-heating, microbial activities in biomass self-heating have received less attention. To address this knowledge gap, we conduct a series of comprehensive studies to gain a deeper understanding of microbial activities in biomass self-heating, aiming to develop a numerical model for reliably predicting biomass self-heating and minimizing fire risks in stored biomass. This paper presents the results of our experimental investigation into microbial respiration during biomass storage. Six commonly used biomass feedstocks with varying initial moisture content are subjected to different storage conditions over a seven-day testing period, during which the main metabolic byproduct (CO2) released from microbial degradation of the biomass is continuously measured. Our findings reveal that an increase in feedstock moisture content significantly enhances microbial activity when the initial moisture content is below 136 %. However, further increases in initial moisture content do not notably enhance, and in some cases, may even weaken microbial activity. Additionally, a temperature range of 25 °C to 45 °C is identified as conducive to rapid microbial decomposition for different biomass materials, and deviation from this range results in a significant reduction in microbial activity. Furthermore, under identical temperature and initial moisture content conditions, the order of carbon dioxide evolution rate is as follows: corn stalk > soybean hull > rice straw > wheat straw > cotton stalk > pepper stalk. Our respiration intensity test results also create a fundamental experimental database for model development and validation, and contribute to the broader understanding of biomass storage and its associated challenges.

Evaluation of the Phenolic Composition and Biological Activities of Six Aqueous Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Seed Extracts Originating from Different Countries: A Comparative Analysis.

Date seeds, which are the main by-products of date fruit consumption, were shown to possess promising biological activities and health benefits with minimal human use. The present investigation analyzed and compared the phenolic content of six date seed varieties from four different origins (Khudari, Sakai, and Safawi from Saudi Arabia, Majdool from Jordan, Zahdi from Iraq, and Kabkab from Iran). The aqueous extracts were examined for possible antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-tumor potential. Date seed oil was extracted, and fatty acid profiles were compared. The results revealed that date seeds are a rich source of polyphenols, which have been linked to biological activities. Furthermore, the phenolic content seemed highly dependent on the variety, where Kabkab had the highest TPC value (271.2 mg GAE/g DM) while Majdool had the lowest value (63.2 mg GAE/g DM). Antioxidant activities of all varieties were highly correlated with the total phenolic content. The antibacterial investigation demonstrated that the Sakai variety possessed the dominant activity, whereas Majdool showed no activity. The results further indicated the sensitivity of both Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, with a stronger effect against B. cereus, while no effect was observed against Gram-negative strains (Salmonella Typhi and Escherichia coli). All varieties were able to decrease colon and lung cancer cell viability, especially Khudari and Sakai, with stronger effects against colon cancer cells. Analysis of date seed oil showed high oleic acid content, especially in Sakai. The findings suggest that date seeds are promising candidates for future pharmaceutical applications as nutraceuticals to help combat certain illnesses, as well as functional foods and natural additives that boost the nutritional value of food products, increase their shelf lives, and improve the overall health of consumers.

High-temperature high-pressure electrochemical hydrogenation of biocrude oil

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) occurs at high pressures (160–200 bar) and temperatures (300–350 °C), where the conditions in the reactor drive the conversion of wet biomass to biocrude oil (BC). Before drop-in, BC needs further upgrading (hydrogenation) to increase the energy content and decrease the concentration of heteroatoms. Normally this is done in hydrogenation reactors at high pressures and temperatures, which require an external high pressure H2 source. The main HTL by-product is process water (PW), which is either recirculated or cleaned before being disposed. Herein we investigated a membrane-less electrochemical method, which uses PW as hydrogen source and can be seamlessly integrated in HTL plants. We demonstrate a proof-of concept of a membrane-less electrochemical reactor that oxidizes PW at the anode and uses hydrogen in form of protons and electrons to hydrogenate BC at the cathode. We report BC upgrading (atomic H/C ratio increase up to 17 %) at high-pressure (up to 100 bar) and high-temperature (up to 200 °C), which mimic the conditions of an actual HTL plant. The proof-of-concept discussed here is a novel way of increasing the hydrogen content of biocrude oil within HTL reactor by using electricity, with no need of an external high-pressure H2 source.

Integral use of grape: Clarified juice production by microfiltration and pomace flour by freeze-drying. Development of gluten-free filled cookies

Viticulture is a millenary activity, with winemaking as its primary purpose. Traditionally, by-products have been discarded or underutilized. This study explored a comprehensive use of the grape, which are rich in simple carbohydrates, vitamin C, minerals, and phenolic compounds. A filtration process involving a filter and microfiltration with membranes was employed to clarify the fruit juice. This resulted in a clear, transparent juice with reduced sugar and protein content. Meanwhile, the main by-product, the pomace which is a mixture of skin, seeds, and stalks, also contains a high content of phenolic compounds and fiber, was freeze-dried. In this context, various hydrocolloids were studied for their effectiveness in producing a powder with the desired characteristics. The grape flour obtained was characterized and used in the formulation of gluten free cookies and their filling. The sweet filled cookies exhibited higher protein, vegetable fat, and fiber content than the control cookies and were well-received in sensory evaluations. Therefore, utilizing these flours in food formulations represents an excellent opportunity to valorize waste and enhance the value of the wine industry.

The Importance of Current Density in Electrolytic Phosphate Coatings

Phosphate coatings have been a popular choice for the treatment of steels and other ferrous alloys for a number of decades. In the most common embodiment of the process, phosphate coatings are produced by a conversion reaction between the steel surface and an acidic conversion bath. The resulting coatings are composed of phosphate crystals which act as a physical barrier between the environment and the underlying metal, protecting it from corrosion and wear [1]. Despite being a cheap and well-affirmed technology, conversion phosphating has recently been scrutinized due to its high environmental impact. In fact, one of the main byproducts of the process is a sludge containing phosphates and heavy metals from the deposition bath.A potential solution to the environmental burden carried by the conversion process is represented by the electrolytic deposition method. In this case, the increase in interfacial pH necessary for phosphate precipitation is obtained by applying a cathodic polarization to the samples to coat in an electrolytic setup. As a consequence of the potential shift, substrate dissolution is prevented and so is sludge formation [2].In this work, we demonstrate how the choice of current density influences the resulting properties of zinc phosphate coatings obtained by electrolytic deposition on low carbon steel substrates. Aside from the deposition rate, the applied current density is found to be a determinant factor in the morphology of the coatings as it can be seen in Figure 1. In turn, this affects other properties such as wear and corrosion resistance.[1] B. Díaz, L. Freire, M. Mojío, and X. R. Nóvoa, “Optimization of conversion coatings based on zinc phosphate on high strength steels, with enhanced barrier properties,” J. Electroanal. Chem., vol. 737, pp. 174–183, Jan. 2015.[2] S. Jegannathan, T. S. N. Sankara Narayanan, K. Ravichandran, and S. Rajeswari, “Performance of zinc phosphate coatings obtained by cathodic electrochemical treatment in accelerated corrosion tests,” Electrochim. Acta, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 247–256, Oct. 2005. Figure 1

Genomic-wide identification and expression analysis of AP2/ERF transcription factors in Zanthoxylum armatum reveals the candidate genes for the biosynthesis of terpenoids.

Terpenoids are the main active components in the Zanthoxylum armatum leaves, which have extensive medicinal value. The Z. armatum leaf is the main by-product in the Z. armatum industry. However, the transcription factors involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoids are rarely reported. This study was performed to identify and classify the APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) gene family of Z. armatum. The chromosome distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, and cis-acting elements of the promoter of the species were also comprehensively analyzed. A total of 214 ZaAP2/ERFs were identified. From the obtained transcriptome and terpenoid content data, four candidate ZaAP2/ERFs involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoids were selected via correlation and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using 13 AP2/ERFs related to the biosynthesis of terpenoids in other plants. ZaERF063 and ZaERF166 showed close evolutionary relationships with the ERFs in other plant species and shared a high AP2-domain sequence similarity with the two closest AP2/ERF proteins, namelySmERF8 from Salvia miltiorrhiza and AaERF4 from Artemisia annua. Further investigation into the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment on the content of terpenoids in Z. armatum leaves revealed that MeJA significantly induced the upregulation of ZaERF166 and led to a significant increase in the terpenoids content in Z. armatum leaves, indicating that ZaERF166 might be involved in the accumulation of terpenoids of Z. armatum. Results will be beneficial for the functional characterization of AP2/ERFs in Z. armatum and establishment of the theoretical foundation to increase the production of terpenoids via the manipulation of the regulatory elements and strengthen the development and utilization of Z. armatum leaves.

Preparation of potential organic fertilizer rich in γ-polyglutamic acid via microbial fermentation using brewer's spent grain as basic substrate

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) is a main byproduct of the beer industry. BSG is rich in a variety of nutrients, and the search for its effective, high-value utilization is ongoing. Environmental probiotic factor γ-PGA was produced by fermenting Bacillus subtilis with BSG substrate and the fermenting grain components were analyzed. The γ-PGA yield reached 31.58 ± 0.21 g/kg of BSG. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and non-targeted metabolomics analyses revealed 73 new volatile substances in the fermenting grains. Furthermore, 2,376 metabolites were upregulated after fermentation and several components were beneficial for plant growth and development (such as ectoine, acetyl eugenol, L-phenylalanine, niacin, isoprene, pantothenic acid, dopamine, glycine, proline, jasmonic acid, etc). These results show that it is possible to synthesize adequate amounts of γ-PGA for use as a functional fertilizer.

Using red mud as a sorbent for heavy metal cations

Red mud is the main by-product of the production of alumina according to the Bayer process. It is a highly alkaline, brick-red suspension. It is characterized by a diversity of chemical and mineralogical composition. The main elements in red mud are Fe, Al, Si, Ti, Na, Ca, and they account for about 90% of the mass of the mud. In addition to these, a large number of other components can be found in minor quantities. Most elements are present in the form of oxides and hydroxides in various minerals. The demand for aluminum is constantly growing, the amount of discharged red mud is continually increasing. The annual amount of red mud produced globally, is already estimated at 200 million tons, and further growth is expected. High production rates and only minimal and sporadic utilization of red mud have resulted in the accumulation of large quantities of disposed red mud, so that the global red mud stockpile is estimated at more than 5 billion tons. In addition to financial costs, the disposal of red mud also poses certain risks to the environment. For this reason, the safe disposal of red mud is one of the main concerns of all alumina producers. Reducing the amount of red mud that is disposed of, and consequently reducing the risks and costs, requires constant efforts to find procedures for its valorization. The possibilities of valorization of red mud are diverse. It has been shown that red mud can be successfully used in many areas, such as construction, metallurgy, chemical industry, environmental protection, agriculture, etc. Analyzing the patents related to the use of red mud, it can be observed that 12% of the patents refer to the wastewater and waste treatment. The heterogeneous composition of red mud indicates the possibility of its application as a composite sorbent. The application of red mud as a low-cost sorbent has been extensively investigated, and favorable results have been obtained in the sorption of metals and metalloids, radionuclides, phosphates, nitrates, fluorides, dyes and phenols, etc. In order to increase the sorption capacity of red mud and obtain a more environmentally friendly sorbent, various treatment techniques are applied. These treatment techniques can modify the physical and chemical properties, which can lead to a change in alkalinity, specific surface area and porosity, a change in the number of active sorption sites, and its surface charge can also be changed. Modifications of red mud to remove various types of pollutants have shown promising results. Many studies have shown that red mud can be used as an efficient and low-cost sorbent for removing heavy metal cations from solutions, such as Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ , Cd2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Sr2+, Cs2+, as well as for the treatment of waste water and leachate from landfills and mines. During the removal of heavy metals from solutions using red mud, various mass transfer phenomena occur: physical and chemical adsorption, surface precipitation, co-precipitation, ion exchange, precipitation, complexation, hydration, dissolution, etc. Despite the numerous possibilities of application and the benefits that arise from it, we still do not have a significant utilization of red mud.

Adsorption and desorption processes of trihalomethanes on different granulated activated carbons in a full-scale advanced water treatment plant

Abstract Trihalomethanes (THMs) are one of the main disinfection by-products generated in drinking water (DW). To control health risks caused by THMs several countries have established a maximum content of these chemicals in DW. THMs can be removed by granular activated carbon (GAC) and their adsorption processes have been studied by different authors. However, there are few studies on their desorption from GAC and no data are available on their desorption at a full scale. This paper summarises the results obtained in the monitoring of the adsorption and desorption processes of THMs at a full-scale DW plant considering different types and stages of GACs, as well as several types of influent waters. This research was carried out during 3 years in a full-scale advanced DW plant (6.25 m3·h−1) that can use four different pre-oxidants. An increase on THMs concentration in the outlet of the AC filters due to desorption processes were checked, although the obtained doses were always far below the established European limit (100 μg/L).

Reverse micelle strategy for effective substitutional Fe-doping in small-sized CeO2 nanocrystals: Assessment of adsorption and photodegradation efficiency of ibuprofen under visible light

Reverse micelle nanoreactors were successfully designed to synthesize small-sized ceria nanocrystals (3.5–4.2 nm) with a sizeable amount of substitutional iron. Undoped and doped CeO2 catalysts with an iron content (0.50–10 mol %) compliant with the nominal value were prepared and tested for the first time for the removal of ibuprofen both in the dark and under UV or visible light irradiation.The effective inclusion and distribution of iron in the ceria lattice were ascertained through in-depth physicochemical characterization. In particular, X-ray diffraction suggested the formation of an F-type crystal structure, ruling out the formation of separate iron-containing crystalline phases. On the other hand, substitutional doping of CeO2 with Fe atoms favoured the formation of Ce3+ defects and vacancy sites (VOs) with a maximum for the sample with 2.5 mol % iron (Fe2.5), as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements and Raman spectroscopy. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that the optical properties were successfully modified by the presence of iron, which causes a gradual decrease in band gap as iron content increases. The experimental evidence was further verified and supported by density functional theory calculations. DFT calculations also revealed that the surface iron and oxygen vacancies are the preferential sites for ibuprofen adsorption. Nevertheless, it was found under dark conditions that adsorption capacity does not monotonically increase with iron content, revealing contrasting roles of surface characteristics. Indeed, catalytic experiments have identified a trade-off between adsorption and photodegradation, identifying Fe2.5 as the best-performing catalyst for ibuprofen removal under visible light irradiation. These results were discussed by considering the key properties of the catalysts as well as their different surface charge determined by ζ potential measurements. The best catalyst was tested through reuse experiments that proved its stability over 4 cycles. Finally, an attempt was made to identify the photodegradation by-products, allowing the detection of 1-ethenyl-4-(2-methylpropyl)benzene as the main by-product.

Regioselective Organocatalyzed Monochlorination of Arenes with Electrophilic Chlorosulfoniums

AbstractThis manuscript presents a regioselective chlorination of arenes, yielding almost exclusively the monochlorinated product. It tolerates free hydroxy groups, 1°, 2° and 3° amines, and carboxylic acids, among other polar and nonpolar functional groups, as well as mono‐ and polysubstituted aromatic rings. Additionally, the utilization of chlorosulfonium salts as the chlorinating agent is demonstrated. The method emerges as an alternative to other processes where organic byproducts must be separated from the reaction mixture. In addition, the main byproducts are gaseous materials such as CO and CO2. This publication introduces the application of sulfoxides, oxalyl chloride, and aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the chlorination mixture.

Genome-wide identification of resistance genes and cellular analysis of key gene knockout strain under 5-hydroxymethylfurfural stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In bioethanol production, the main by-product, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), significantly hinders microbial fermentation. Therefore, it is crucial to explore genes related to HMF tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for enhancing the tolerance of ethanol fermentation strains. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using genome-wide deletion library scanning and SGAtools, resulting in the identification of 294 genes associated with HMF tolerance in S. cerevisiae. Further KEGG and GO enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of genes OCA1 and SIW14 in the protein phosphorylation pathway, underscoring their role in HMF tolerance. Spot test validation and subcellular structure observation demonstrated that, following a 3-h treatment with 60 mM HMF, the SIW14 gene knockout strain exhibited a 12.68% increase in cells with abnormal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and a 22.41% increase in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species compared to the BY4741 strain. These findings indicate that the SIW14 gene contributes to the protection of the ER structure within the cell and facilitates the clearance of reactive oxygen species, thereby confirming its significance as a key gene for HMF tolerance in S. cerevisiae.

Effect of temperature and extraction time on quality of pectin from arabica coffee pulp

Coffee is one of the largest commodities in the world. With coffee production more industrialized, waste generated a huge environmental problem. Coffee pulp is the main by-product of coffee processing. One of the components of coffee pulp is pectin. Pectin production from coffee pulp and its characteristics should be studied since extraction conditions used in production vary depending on raw material, desired type of pectin, and process economics. This research aimed to study the characteristics of pectin from coffee pulp extracted using oxalic acid under different times (80 and 90 minutes) and temperatures (100oC and 120oC). The parameters analyzed were yield, equivalent weight, water content, ash content, methoxyl, galacturonic acid, and degree of esterification. The result showed that extraction time and temperature affect the characteristics of pectin. The highest yield was obtained by extraction at 90oC for 90 minutes. The coffee pectin has colored light brown and is categorized as low methoxyl pectin. Overall pectin coffee pulp produced in this study has met the quality requirements of dried pectin by the International Pectin Producer Association (IPPA) standard

Oleuropein in olive leaf, branch, and stem extracts: stability and biological activity in human cervical carcinoma and melanoma cells.

Olive leaves as a main byproduct of olive oil and fruit industry are a valuable source of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, with multiple biomedical effects. Apart from leaves, olive branches and stems make up a significant amount of olive waste. It is well known that the drying process and long-term storage affect the stability and concentration of polyphenols present in raw materials. For that matter, two different means of storing olive waste, at room temperature and +4 °C, were compared by determining the content of the polyphenol oleuropein (OLE) in olive leaf, branch, and stem extracts (LE, BE, and SE) by HPLC-DAD method. Total phenols (TPC), o-diphenols (o-DPC), and total flavonoids (TFC) content in extracts were assessed by UV-Vis measurements. LE prepared from leaves stored at +4 °C had the highest OLE content, 30.7 mg g-1 of dry extract (DE). SE from stems stored at +4 °C was the richest in TPC and TFC (193 mg GAE/g DE and 82.9 mg CE/g DE, respectively), due to the higher purity of the extract. The biological activity of extracts was determined on cervical cancer (HeLa), melanoma (A375), metastatic melanoma (A375M) tumor cell lines, and on spontaneously immortalized cell line of keratinocytes (HaCaT), using the MTT assay. The data show that all extracts had a similar dose-dependent effect on cell viability in HeLa cells, while the effect of LE on melanoma A375 and A375M, and HaCaT cells was cell-line dependent.

Energetic and environmental optimizations and byproduct valorization of pyrolysis of textile dyeing sludge with FeCl3

Maximizing the circular economy of hazardous wastes is one of the imperatives not to overshoot the biogeochemical limits of Earth. This study aimed to characterize and valorize the textile dyeing sludge (TDS) pyrolysis in response to the addition of FeCl3 conditioner in the N2 and CO2 atmospheres. The increase fraction of FeCl3 decreased comprehensive pyrolysis index (CPI600) from 1.05 to 0.42 in the N2 atmosphere and from 0.71 to 0.41 in the CO2 atmosphere at 20 °C/min. The addition of FeCl3 diminished the pyrolysis performance, with a more pronounced inhibitory effect occurring in the N2 atmosphere than in the CO2 atmosphere. Regardless of the type of pyrolysis atmosphere, with or without FeCl3, all the TDS pyrolysis released CO, CO2, CH4, aromatics, NH3, and SO2. The main pyrolytic byproducts were nitrides and hydrocarbons, represented by ethanolamine (C2H7NO) and benzene (C6H6). Not only did 4 % FeCl3 addition facilitate the transformation of nitrides into hydrocarbons during the pyrolysis, but it also achieved the optimal energetic performance and emission reduction. Our findings provide novel and actionable insights into the byproduct valorization and pollution control during the TDS pyrolysis and the promotion of carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

Highly oxidized and rearranged schinortriterpenoids with neuroprotective activity from the stems and leaves of Schisandra chinensis

The stems and leaves (SCSL) are the main byproducts of the Schisandra chinensis cultivation process, and they are worthy of research and utilization from the perspective of medicine and economic benefits. Eighteen (1–18) undescribed highly oxygenated and rearranged schinortriterpenoids (SNTs) and six analogues (19–24), including 14(13 → 12):16(17 → 13)-diabeoschiartane (1–7), 18(13 → 14)-abeoschiartanes (8–12, 19), 18-norschiartane (13), schiartanes (14, 20), 16,17-secopreschisanartanes (15–17, 21–24), lancifoartane (18) skeletons, were isolated from the SCSL. Compounds 1–7 feature a rare 7/5/5-fused carbocyclic core. The structures were established by MS, NMR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, ECD, and biogenetic considerations. In addition, neuroprotective assays were performed to gain a preliminary understanding of their biological activity. Compounds 2, 6, and 7 showed strong neurite outgrowth-promoting activity with 13.1 %, 12.0 %, and 12.2 % cell differentiation rate (positive group: 15.4 %), respectively. Compounds 1, 2, and 11 at a concentration of 25 μM also had neuroprotective effect on corticosterone (CORT)-induced PC12 cell injury, the cell viability was increased by 21.1 %, 19.5 %, and 24.4 % (positive group: 30.6 %), respectively. Molecular docking analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network revealed that compounds 2, 6, and 7 can exert neuroprotective effects through the regulation of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2). The discovery was beneficial to the high-value utilization of SCSL and the development of natural neuroprotective drugs.

The influence of fertilizer systems on plant residues mass of agrophytocoenoses of short-term crop rotation, the balance of soil humus and ecologization of agriculture

Three-year (2020–2022) studies on the black soil of a typical experimental field of the Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University found that on unfertilized variants fertilized with 6t/ha of manure + N64P54K58, 6t/ha of manure + N98P66K92 and 6 t/ha of manure + N126P82K116 according to the use of non-commercial products of agrophytocenoses as organic fertilizer, the dry matter of root residues was 2.64, respectively; 3.89; 4.64 and 5.13 tons, plant residues – 3.63; 5.25; 6.24 and 6.84 tons, and crop rotation productivity – 1.98; 3.42; 4.40 and 4.83 tons of dry matter of the main products and 4.48; 7.84; 10.22 and 11.43 tons of the main products and by-products of crops per hectare of arable land. With an increase in fertilizer application rates, the increase in marketable products of agrophytocenoses is higher than that of plant residues. At the same time, the ratio of the dry mass of the main products and byproducts of agricultural plants to the mass of their root and plant residues, as well as the share of their nonmarketable products, is increasing. A positive balance of soil humus was recorded only in the fields of white mustard and buckwheat, it is negative under the rest of the agrophytocenoses. On unfertilized plots fertilized with 6 tons of manure + N64P54K58, 6 tons of manure + N98P66K92 and 6 tons of manure + N126P82K116 with the use of by-products of agrophytocenoses as organic fertilizer, the balance of humus in the arable layer of typical black soil was positive and was, respectively, 0.34; 0.63; 0.55 and 0.60 t per hectare of crop rotation. When noncommodity crop production was removed from the fields, this indicator was negative in all experimental variants. In general, the share of humus formed from manure, plant residues, green manure and non-commodity crop products in the crop rotation was 0, 36, 31 and 33% on unfertilized plots, respectively; 10, 30, 27 and 33 % – fertilized with 6 t/ha of manure + N64P54K58; 8, 29, 27 and 36 % – fertilized with 6 t/ha of manure + N98P66K92; 7.29, 26 and 38 % – fertilized with 6 t/ha of manure + N126P82K116. According to the indicator of the ecologization coefficient of agriculture, the zero fertilization system (without the application of manure and mineral fertilizers) corresponds to biological farming, the first is ecological, the second and the third – the ecologization of the branch. Agrotechnically efficient is the use of agrophytocenoses by-products as organic fertiliser and ploughing only for a row crop in a five-field crop rotation. Key words: fertilization system, plant residues, humus, agrophytocenoses, crop rotation, ecologization , by-products (non-marketable products), productivity.

Simultaneous nitrate and chromium removal mechanism in a pyrite-involved mixotrophic biofilter.

Microbially mediated NO3--N and Cr(VI) reduction is being recognized as an eco-friendly and cost-effective remediation strategy. Iron sulfide mineral, as a natural inorganic electron donor, has a strong influence on NO3--N and Cr(VI) transformation, respectively. However, little is known about the simultaneous nitrate and chromium removal performance and underlying mechanism in an iron sulfide mineral-involved mixotrophic biofilter. This study demonstrated that the NO3--N and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies were stable at 62 ± 8% and 56 ± 10%, and most of them were eliminated in the 0-100-mm region of the biofilter. Cr(VI) was reduced to insoluble Cr(III) via microbial and chemical pathways, which was confirmed by the SEM-EDS morphology and the XPS spectra of biofilm and pyrite particles. SO42- was as a main byproduct of pyrite oxidation; however, the bacterial SO42- reduction synchronously occurred, evidenced by the variations of TOC and SO42- concentrations. These results suggested that there were complicated and intertwined biochemical relations between NO3--N/Cr(VI)/SO42-/DO (electron acceptors) and pyrite/organics (electron donors). Further investigation indicated that both the maximal biomass and greatest denitrifiers' relative abundances in microbial sample S1 well explained why the pollutants were removed in the 0-100-mm region. A variety of denitrifiers such as Pseudoxanthomona, Acidovorax, and Simplicispira were enriched, which probably were responsible for both NO3--N and Cr(VI) removal. Our findings advance the understanding of simultaneous nitrate and chromium removal in pyrite-involved mixotrophic systems and facilitate the new strategy development for nitrate and chromium remediation.

Understanding surgical smoke in laparoscopy through Lagrangian Coherent Structures.

In laparoscopic surgery, one of the main byproducts is the gaseous particles, called surgical smoke, which is found hazardous for both the patient and the operating room staff due to their chemical composition, and this implies a need for its effective elimination. The dynamics of surgical smoke are monitored by the underlying flow inside the abdomen and the hidden Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCSs) present therein. In this article, for an insufflated abdomen domain, we analyse the velocity field, obtained from a computational fluid dynamics model, first, by calculating the flow rates for the outlets and then by identifying the patterns which are responsible for the transportation, mixing and accumulation of the material particles in the flow. From the finite time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) field calculated for different cross-sections of the domain, we show that these material curves are dependent on the angle, positions and number of the outlets, and the inlet. The ridges of the backward FTLE field reveal the regions of vortex formation, and the maximum accumulation, details which can inform the effective placement of the instruments for efficient removal of the surgical smoke.

Economic substantiation of the production of sheep breeding products in the farms of Ukraine

Activation of the development of sheep breeding in Ukraine is possible based on the spread of specialized farms for breeding and growing sheep for meat, which will contribute to the economy of rural areas, employment, and welfare of the population. The article presents the main results of the research on planning the economic efficiency of the production of sheep products in farms, taking into account the market conditions of Ukraine. The optimal structure for the organization of production and sale of sheep products is proposed and substantiated, which includes breeding, growing, slaughtering sheep, and entering the market through direct sales channels with sheep meat, wool, sheepskin, and main by-products, which will significantly increase the profitability of the farm compared to traditional business models in sheep breeding, which are focused on breeding and rearing with the sale of animals in live weight. The planning of the need for fixed and working capital, which is necessary for the organization of production of sheep products in a family-type farm with several 200 ewes, has been carried out. The cost of production of sheep breeding products by main species was calculated, which at the beginning of the project was 2.8 euros for 1 kg of lamb, 1.4 euros for 1 kg of wool, and about 10 euros for one sheepskin. It was determined that the required amount of advanced capital for the organization of the farm would be 88 thousand euros, which will be compensated by net cash flow in 3 years. The farm is predicted to produce and sell products in the market for a total of 54,000 euros in the first year, which will potentially increase to 80,200 euros by the end of the project, which will fully compensate for costs and ensure a net profit of up to 20,000 euros EUR per year at the end of the project implementation period. The estimated amount of net cash flow for five years is EUR 77,000, with an internal rate of return of 26.3 %. The ratio of net cash flow to the cost of capital will be from 33 to 63 %, which justifies the relatively high level of investment efficiency in the production of sheep products in family farm farms following the technical and economic features of the business described in the article. The influence of the production volume of sheep breeding products on indicators of investment effectiveness is also determined. It has been established that an increase in the number of ewes from 200 to 500 will increase the net cash flow by an average of 15-16 thousand euros per year for every 100 head of increase in the number of sheep with a simultaneous decrease in capital costs per head.