Valuable Co-products Research Articles

Beyond critique: the value of co-production in realising just cities?

ABSTRACTThis paper contributes to the burgeoning literature on the role of academic–practice relationships in contributing to sustainable urban development. We argue that co-production offers a potential pathway for academics to work with policy-makers in moving towards the realisation of more just cities. The paper starts from the position that there is an essential need for, but limit to, critique alone in contributing to the possibility of urban change. Moving towards a shared critique as a basis for future action is an important precondition for realising more just cities, adding weight to the voices arguing for alternative urban visions. These arguments are advanced through a study conducted by academic researchers and policy-makers in the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Hub. The paper outlines a process for working with existing urban institutions within institutional constraints to develop affirmative actions with the aim of longer term transformations. A key contribution is then the identification of eight markers for assessing progress towards the realisation of more just cities.

Two strands of servitization: A thematic analysis of traditional and customer co-created servitization and future research directions

The servitization literature has diverged, some adopting a goods-dominant logic and some a service-dominant logic. While both literature streams deal with servitization, their conceptual underpinnings and use of key terms are fundamentally different and have become confused within literature. This lack of clarity and understanding presents a challenge to both research and practice. The paper asks what the points of convergence and divergence are between the two streams of literature. The extant literature is reviewed to identify and understand where and how the streams converge and diverge. A two-tiered thematic analysis with both semantic and latent theme analysis is employed. Our findings highlight five points of departure, as well as highlighting examples where both logics have been applied. The five points of departure are the differing conceptualisations of: Value-in-Use, Design of the Servitized Offering, Value Co-production and Value Co-creation, Contextual Variety and Complexity, and Business Model of Solutions and Outcomes. We also propose conditions under which one logic may be more appropriate, in particular we find that adoption of a goods-dominant logic and service-dominant logic are better suited to the pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness, respectively. Finally, we identify future research directions, particularly within the domain of the Internet-of-Things.

Sugar beet pulp as a carrier for Lactobacillus paracasei in lactic acid fermentation of agro-industrial waste

Lactic acid (LA) has gained considerable importance in the global market due to a wide range of applications. Because of the growing demand for food and feed, the use of lignocellulosic residues, by-products and waste streams is highly needed for commercial LA production. This study investigated the possibility of using potato stillage and sugar beet molasses for LA and biomass production by Lactobacillus paracasei NRRL B-4564 immobilized on sugar beet pulp. Adsorption of L. paracasei enabled easy separation of bacterial biomass from the fermentation media and its efficient reuse in three successive batch cycles. Total LA concentration of 146 g L-1 and average productivity of 1.03 g L-1 h-1 were achieved on waste substrate using bacterial cells immobilized on a natural carrier without mineral and nitrogen supplementation. The solid part of fermentation media remaining after LA fermentation is a valuable co-product, which could be used as animal feed rich in probiotic biomass.

Impacts of the Allocation Assumption in Life-Cycle Assessments of Wood-Based Panels*

Abstract Wood processing often involves an array of products and coproducts and a cascade of primary and secondary uses. Prior life-cycle assessment (LCA) reporting allocated environmental burdens to products and coproducts based on mass for multiproduct systems to develop environmental product declarations, which are developed from LCAs following the procedures detailed in product category rules (PCRs). A recent PCR for North American structural and architectural wood products requires allocation by economic value when the main products exceed the value of coproducts by greater than 10 percent. Using recent LCAs of wood-based panels, this article describes the differences in LCA results when using mass and economic allocation methods. For wood panel products that do not use wood residues from primary wood manufacturers (e.g., plywood), an increase in environmental impacts results from an economic allocation approach. For wood panel products made from wood residues (e.g., cellulosic fiberboard), there is a slight decrease in most environmental impact metrics with economic allocation. Sensitivity and variability in LCA results are discussed for the mass and economic allocation approaches.

Renewable energy technologies: enlargement of biofuels list and co-products from microalgae

Microalgae is a perspective feedstock for producing a wide variety of biofuels and co-products with high added value. An alternative to the traditional technology of biodiesel from algae by the transesterification is the technology of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). The article presents the results of promising strains screening and directed cultivation of microalgae for the processing by means of variety of technologies and production of valuable co-products. An algorithm for selecting suitable areas for industrial plantations of algae is presented.

Switching cultivation for enhancing biomass and lipid production with extracellular polymeric substance as co-products in Heynigia riparia SX01

Switching cultivation (mixotrophic-heterotrophic, 12h:12h) of Heynigia riparia SX01 was studied, the maximum biomass concentration of 3.55gL−1 and lipid yield of 1.45gL−1 were achieved after 8days cultivation. The extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was developed as co-product. Addition of MgSO4 could enhance the production of EPS. The highest amount of 0.60gL−1 EPS was obtained with the addition of 2gL−1 MgSO4, the self-flocculation efficiency was as high as 83% at this condition. The total lipid and lipid fractions did not show differences with extra MgSO4. Based on the above results, a new biodiesel production model was proposed: culturing Heynigia riparia SX01 with extra 2gL−1 MgSO4 by switching cultivation and using self flocculation to collect microalgae for biodiesel production, while EPS was collected as valuable co-products.

A comparison between corn and grain sorghum fermentation rates, Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles composition, and lipid profiles

The aim of this study was to determine if the compositional difference between grain sorghum and corn impact ethanol yields and coproduct value when grain sorghum is incorporated into existing corn ethanol facilities. Fermentation properties of corn and grain sorghum were compared utilizing two fermentation systems (conventional thermal starch liquefaction and native starch hydrolysis). Fermentation results indicated that protease addition influenced the fermentation rate and yield for grain sorghum, improving yields by 1–2% over non-protease treated fermentations. Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles produced from sorghum had a statistically significant higher yields and significantly higher protein content relative to corn. Lipid analysis of the Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles showed statistically significant differences between corn and sorghum in triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol and free fatty acid levels.

A place for sharing: The emotional geographies of peer-sharing in UK University halls of residences

Our homes are important spaces through which emotions are produced, performed and regulated. They carry significant material and symbolic value and are inscribed with meaning and belonging that are often crucial in shaping and (re)producing collective and individual identities. Yet while research has explored the role of the home in the co-production of familial values, networks and behaviours, less is understood of the emotional geographies of accommodation occupied by non-related adults – defined here as ‘peer-sharing’. This paper responds to this gap by exploring how peer-shared living-spaces are emotionally constructed through a case study of students living in a UK university's halls of residences. In doing so, this paper examines how (1) the morphology of shared living-spaces contributes towards the production of sharers' emotions, (2) emotions become inscribed upon home-spaces through place-making activities and (3) diversity is enacted through the emotional work of sharers and how this is performed through friendship in shared living-spaces. This analysis concludes by emphasising the important role of emotions in co-producing different spaces, activities, knowledges and experiences among peer-sharers and how peer-sharing might be both performed in and influenced by living spaces.

Interactional Service Innovation with Social Media Users

The pervasive availability of social media is changing user interaction in service innovation. However, we lack information on how to leverage interactional service innovation with social media. This paper draws from an analytical framework constructed according to mixed qualitative research, deriving a model and functions of its agents in social media innovation. The findings indicate that organizations interact with the social media and reduce diseconomies of scope; however, they also codestroy value. Hence, we explain how companies leverage sustainable innovation with social media users in the co-production and co-creation of value. We conclude the findings and results with the theoretical propositions, and the conclusion follows an outline of the contributions, future research, and managerial implications.

Environmental and Genetic Factors Associated with Solanesol Accumulation in Potato Leaves.

Solanesol is a high value 45-carbon, unsaturated, all-trans-nonaprenol isoprenoid. Recently solanesol has received particular attention because of its utility, both in its own right and as a precursor in the production of numerous compounds used in the treatment of disease states. Solanesol is found mainly in solanaceous crops such as potato, tomato, tobacco and pepper where it accumulates in the foliage. There is considerable potential to explore the extraction of solanesol from these sources as a valuable co-product. In this study we have characterized the genetic variation in leaf solanesol content in a biparental, segregating diploid potato population. We demonstrate that potato leaf solanesol content is genetically controlled and identify several quantitative trait loci associated with leaf solanesol content. Transient over-expression of genes from the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) and mevalonic acid (MVA) pathways, either singly or in combination, resulted in enhanced accumulation of solanesol in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana, providing insights for genetically engineering the pathway. We also demonstrate that in potato, leaf solanesol content is enhanced by up to six-fold on exposure to moderately elevated temperature and show corresponding changes in expression patterns of MEP and MVA genes. Our combined approaches offer new insights into solanesol accumulation and strategies for developing a bio-refinery approach to potato production.

Exploring the impact of the recovery academy: a qualitative study of Recovery College experiences

Purpose – Recovery Colleges strive to assist individuals in their journey of recovery and help organisations to become more recovery focused. The evidence base surrounding Recovery Colleges is still in its infancy and further research is required to investigate their effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to explore the subjective experience of people involved with a Recovery College: “The Recovery Academy” based in Greater Manchester. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative study using data collected from four focus groups of Recovery Academy students who have either lived experience of mental health problems, are health professionals or are family members or carers. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings – Four main themes emerged from discussing experiences of the Recovery Academy and its courses: ethos of the Recovery Academy; personal and organisational impact; value of co-production; and barriers to engagement and impact. The Recovery Academy can have a positive impact on the lives of students who attend the courses and offer benefits to the organisation in which it is run. Originality/value – Recovery Colleges are gaining large interest nationally. However, to date there is a paucity of research on Recovery Colleges. This is the first paper to be presented for publication specifically on the Recovery Academy. The findings of this study suggest Recovery Colleges have the potential to positively impact students and facilitate recovery oriented organisational change. The findings can add valuable data to the emerging Recovery College evidence base.

Growth, ethanol production, and inulinase activity on various inulin substrates by mutant Kluyveromyces marxianus strains NRRL Y-50798 and NRRL Y-50799.

Economically important plants contain large amounts of inulin. Disposal of waste resulting from their processing presents environmental issues. Finding microorganisms capable of converting inulin waste to biofuel and valuable co-products at the processing site would have significant economic and environmental impact. We evaluated the ability of two mutant strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus (Km7 and Km8) to utilize inulin for ethanol production. In glucose medium, both strains consumed all glucose and produced 0.40 g ethanol/g glucose at 24 h. In inulin medium, Km7 exhibited maximum colony forming units (CFU)/mL and produced 0.35 g ethanol/g inulin at 24 h, while Km8 showed maximum CFU/mL and produced 0.02 g ethanol/g inulin at 96 h. At 24 h in inulin + glucose medium, Km7 produced 0.40 g ethanol/g (inulin + glucose) and Km8 produced 0.20 g ethanol/g (inulin + glucose) with maximum CFU/mL for Km8 at 72 h, 40 % of that for Km7 at 36 h. Extracellular inulinase activity at 6 h for both Km7 and Km8 was 3.7 International Units (IU)/mL.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10295-016-1771-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Canola/rapeseed protein-functionality and nutrition

Protein rich meal is a valuable co-product of canola/rapeseed oil extraction. Seed storage proteins that include cruciferin (11S) and napin (2S) dominate the protein complement of canola while oleosins, lipid transfer proteins and other minor proteins of non-storage nature are also found. Although oil-free canola meal contains 36–40% protein on a dry weight basis, non-protein components including fibre, polymeric phenolics, phytates and sinapine, etc . of the seed coat and cellular components make protein less suitable for food use. Separation of canola protein from non-protein components is a technical challenge but necessary to obtain full nutritional and functional potential of protein. Process conditions of raw material and protein preparation are critical of nutritional and functional value of the final protein product. The storage proteins of canola can satisfy many nutritional and functional requirements for food applications. Protein macromolecules of canola also provide functionalities required in applications beyond edible uses; there exists substantial potential as a source of plant protein and a renewable biopolymer. Available information at present is mostly based on the protein products that can be obtained as mixtures of storage protein types and other chemical constituents of the seed; therefore, full potential of canola storage proteins is yet to be revealed.

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial <em>Isochrysis</em> Algal Biomass

The need to replace petroleum fuels with alternatives from renewable and more environmentally sustainable sources is of growing importance. Biomass-derived biofuels have gained considerable attention in this regard, however first generation biofuels from edible crops like corn ethanol or soybean biodiesel have generally fallen out of favor. There is thus great interest in the development of methods for the production of liquid fuels from domestic and superior non-edible sources. Here we describe a detailed procedure for the production of a purified biodiesel from the marine microalgae Isochrysis. Additionally, a unique suite of lipids known as polyunsaturated long-chain alkenones are isolated in parallel as potentially valuable coproducts to offset the cost of biodiesel production. Multi-kilogram quantities of Isochrysis are purchased from two commercial sources, one as a wet paste (80% water) that is first dried prior to processing, and the other a dry milled powder (95% dry). Lipids are extracted with hexanes in a Soxhlet apparatus to produce an algal oil ("hexane algal oil") containing both traditional fats (i.e., triglycerides, 46-60% w/w) and alkenones (16-25% w/w). Saponification of the triglycerides in the algal oil allows for separation of the resulting free fatty acids (FFAs) from alkenone-containing neutral lipids. FFAs are then converted to biodiesel (i.e., fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs) by acid-catalyzed esterification while alkenones are isolated and purified from the neutral lipids by crystallization. We demonstrate that biodiesel from both commercial Isochrysis biomasses have similar but not identical FAME profiles, characterized by elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid contents (approximately 40% w/w). Yields of biodiesel were consistently higher when starting from the Isochrysis wet paste (12% w/w vs. 7% w/w), which can be traced to lower amounts of hexane algal oil obtained from the powdered Isochrysis product.

Experimental Protocol for Biodiesel Production with Isolation of Alkenones as Coproducts from Commercial Isochrysis Algal Biomass.

The need to replace petroleum fuels with alternatives from renewable and more environmentally sustainable sources is of growing importance. Biomass-derived biofuels have gained considerable attention in this regard, however first generation biofuels from edible crops like corn ethanol or soybean biodiesel have generally fallen out of favor. There is thus great interest in the development of methods for the production of liquid fuels from domestic and superior non-edible sources. Here we describe a detailed procedure for the production of a purified biodiesel from the marine microalgae Isochrysis. Additionally, a unique suite of lipids known as polyunsaturated long-chain alkenones are isolated in parallel as potentially valuable coproducts to offset the cost of biodiesel production. Multi-kilogram quantities of Isochrysis are purchased from two commercial sources, one as a wet paste (80% water) that is first dried prior to processing, and the other a dry milled powder (95% dry). Lipids are extracted with hexanes in a Soxhlet apparatus to produce an algal oil ("hexane algal oil") containing both traditional fats (i.e., triglycerides, 46-60% w/w) and alkenones (16-25% w/w). Saponification of the triglycerides in the algal oil allows for separation of the resulting free fatty acids (FFAs) from alkenone-containing neutral lipids. FFAs are then converted to biodiesel (i.e., fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs) by acid-catalyzed esterification while alkenones are isolated and purified from the neutral lipids by crystallization. We demonstrate that biodiesel from both commercial Isochrysis biomasses have similar but not identical FAME profiles, characterized by elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid contents (approximately 40% w/w). Yields of biodiesel were consistently higher when starting from the Isochrysis wet paste (12% w/w vs. 7% w/w), which can be traced to lower amounts of hexane algal oil obtained from the powdered Isochrysis product.

Stand-alone and biorefinery pathways to produce hydrogen through gasification and dark fermentation using Pinus Patula

New efforts in the search of alternative clean and renewable energy to replace the current energy precursors have been assessed in order to reduce emissions to the environment. Lignocellulosic Biomass (LB) can be used to produce bioenergy due to its high energy potential and availability. Different ways are proposed for the transformation of these residues into high added-value products. Thermochemical and biochemical technologies are the most interest concepts focusing on the use of biomass as source for energy production at positive net balances. This study presents the techno-economic, energy and environmental assessment of five scenarios for the hydrogen production through gasification and dark fermentation based on the biorefinery and stand-alone concepts. The results demonstrated that the production of hydrogen based on the concept of a biorefinery can improve the profitability, energy efficiency and reduce the emissions of the processes compared to that based on the stand-alone way. The selection of ethanol and electricity as valuable co-products of the biorefinery in the hydrogen production process confirmed that the process scale and products diversity makes possible a flexible and suitable process to produce hydrogen and other energy carriers from Pinus Patula.

The co-production of value in digital, university–industry R&D collaborative projects

In the context of R&D collaborations between universities and industry, this study investigates the co-production process and the contextual elements that shape it. We develop a conceptual framework that builds on the service-dominant logic perspective that value propositions emerge from the interaction between co-producing parties and the integration of resources. Specifically, the framework explicates how individual, organizational, and external factors shape the type of interactions and the platforms used, the availability and use of operand and operant resources, and the organizational and individual outcomes sought in R&D collaborative projects. We investigate the interplay among these factors through group interviews with UK industry practitioners and university researchers in the context of digital research projects. The types of interaction, resources, and outcomes sought that characterize successful R&D collaboration are revealed, and the contextual aspects that enable, facilitate, block, or create barriers to successful R&D collaborations are identified. Finally, we propose five practical principles for the successful development of collaborative R&D projects within the university–industry context.

Organizing the Co-Production of Health and Environmental Values in Food Production: The Constitutional Processes in the Relationships between Italian Solidarity Purchasing Groups and Farmers

The paper focuses on the Solidarity Purchasing Group (SPG), defined as a group of households that establishes an organization primarily to provide food to its members. The study aims at illustrating and testing two hypotheses. The first is that within the group, specific organizational processes take place according to which food communication practices determine the resource use objectives. The second hypothesis is the SPG tends to assign larger values to health and environmental protection than other resource use objectives. These hypotheses concern the ranking of the resource use objectives managed by the group. The idea is that an SPG defines the resource uses according to the specific group’s objectives and by means of organizational tools, especially the food communication practices. For testing purposes, we conducted an empirical analysis by submitting an online questionnaire to 900 Italian SPGs. The results firstly indicate that the organizational dimensions of SPGs, including the relationships between SPGs and farmers, influence the group objectives, providing empirical evidence that supports the first hypothesis. Moreover, the test of the second hypothesis indicates that group objectives concerning health and environmental protection are particularly valued by the SPGs. We then conclude that the groups are aimed at co-producing health and environmental protection with public authorities. We then underlined limits of the study and potential future research paths.

Combustion behavior of low-rank coal impregnated with glycerol

The addition of biomass to an existing coal-fired boiler has emerged as a prospective option for reducing CO2 emissions to mitigate the problems associated with excess global warming. However, the cost associated with retrofitting an injection system and the unstable combustion hinder the use of this option. Therefore, we propose the use of coal impregnated with glycerol as fuel that can be directly injected into an existing boiler. This is a two-in-one fuel that combines a low-rank coal (LRC) with bio-liquid matter extracted from biomass such as molasses or sugarcane juice. In this study, for the first time, we used glycerol, which is a low value co-product of biodiesel production, as the bio-liquid, because the use of molasses or sugar-cane juice raises food ethical issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the combustion behavior of coal impregnated with glycerol, using experimental and numerical methods. The results showed that the calorific value of coal impregnated with glycerol increased, and the combustibility at low and high temperatures was improved by impregnation of low-rank coal with up to 20% glycerol. We also confirmed that the combustion performance of coal impregnated with glycerol was unaffected and was identical to that of original coal. However, excess glycerol (more than 20%) led to oxygen deficiency near the burner and thermal expansion, which reduced the combustibility. The results of this study therefore suggest that less than 20% glycerol is the optimal condition for low-rank coal impregnated with glycerol.

Structural Basis of Stereospecificity in the Bacterial Enzymatic Cleavage of β-Aryl Ether Bonds in Lignin

Lignin is a combinatorial polymer comprising monoaromatic units that are linked via covalent bonds. Although lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemicals, its recalcitrance to chemical or biological digestion presents major obstacles to both the production of second-generation biofuels and the generation of valuable coproducts from lignin's monoaromatic units. Degradation of lignin has been relatively well characterized in fungi, but it is less well understood in bacteria. A catabolic pathway for the enzymatic breakdown of aromatic oligomers linked via β-aryl ether bonds typically found in lignin has been reported in the bacterium Sphingobium sp. SYK-6. Here, we present x-ray crystal structures and biochemical characterization of the glutathione-dependent β-etherases, LigE and LigF, from this pathway. The crystal structures show that both enzymes belong to the canonical two-domain fold and glutathione binding site architecture of the glutathione S-transferase family. Mutagenesis of the conserved active site serine in both LigE and LigF shows that, whereas the enzymatic activity is reduced, this amino acid side chain is not absolutely essential for catalysis. The results include descriptions of cofactor binding sites, substrate binding sites, and catalytic mechanisms. Because β-aryl ether bonds account for 50–70% of all interunit linkages in lignin, understanding the mechanism of enzymatic β-aryl ether cleavage has significant potential for informing ongoing studies on the valorization of lignin.