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Biomethanation and microbial community response during agricultural biomass and shrimp chaff digestion
2021
Gohar, Ali | Ling, Zhenmin | Saif, Irfan | ʻUs̲mān, Muḥammad | Jalalah, Mohammed | Harraz, Farid A. | Al-Assiri, M.S. | Salama, Sayed | Li, Xiangkai
Anaerobic digestion, a promising technology for waste utilization and bioenergy generation, is a suitable approach to convert the shrimp waste to biomethane, reducing its environmental impact. In this study, shrimp chaff (SC) was co-digested corn straw (CS), wheat straw (WS), and sugarcane bagasse (SB). In co-digestion, SC enhanced biomethane production of CS by 8.47-fold, followed by SC + WS (5.67-folds), and SC + SB (3.37-folds). SC addition to agricultural biomass digestion also promoted the volatile solids removal up to 85%. Microbial community analysis of SC and CS co-digestion presented the dominance of phylum Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Euryarchaeota. Proteolytic bacteria were dominant (18.02%) during co-digestion of SC and CS, with Proteiniphilum as major bacterial genera (14%) that converts complex proteinaceous substrates to organic acids. Among the archaeal community, Methanosarcina responsible for conversion of acetate and hydrogen to biomethane, increased up to 70.77% in SC and CS digestion. Addition of SC to the digestion of agricultural wastes can significantly improve the biomethane production along with its effective management to reduce environmental risks.
Show more [+] Less [-]Inorganic Arsenic Concentrations in Wheat Chaff Exceed Those in Wheat Grain
2016
Duncan, Elliott G. | Maher, William A. | Jagtap, Rajani | Foster, Simon D. | Krikowa, Frank | O’Sullivan, Cathryn A. | Roper, Margaret M.
Eight wheat cultivars were grown in soil amended with arsenate (Asⱽ) at a concentration of 15 mg As kg⁻¹ soil, with or without a triple super phosphate amendment of 40 mg P kg⁻¹ soil. All eight wheat cultivars accumulated higher As in stems/leaves (9–23 μg As g⁻¹) and chaff (9–22 μg As g⁻¹) compared with the grain (0.6–1.6 μg As g⁻¹). The As present in stems/leaves, grain and chaff was found as inorganic As species—Asⱽ or arsenite (Asᴵᴵᴵ). For most cultivars, increased P availability had minimal influence on As accumulation in chaff tissues. If this data is reflective of what occurs in situ, then As can accumulate in chaff at similar concentrations to stem and leaf tissues which are much higher than in grain. Further research is required to determine the risks of As accumulation in livestock products (meat and dairy) when fed with As-contaminated wheat chaff.
Show more [+] Less [-]Converting environmental risks to benefits by using spent coffee grounds (SCG) as a valuable resource
2018
Stylianou, Marinos | Agapiou, Agapios | Omirou, Michalis | Vyrides, Ioannis | Ioannides, Ioannis M. | Maratheftis, Grivas | Fasoula, Dionysia
Coffee is perhaps one of the most vital ingredients in humans’ daily life in modern world. However, this causes the production of million tons of relevant wastes, i.e., plastic cups, aluminum capsules, coffee chaff (silver skin), and spent coffee grounds (SCG), all thrown untreated into landfills. It is estimated that 1 kg of instant coffee generates around 2 kg of wet SCG; a relatively unique organic waste stream, with little to no contamination, separated directly in the source by the coffee shops. The produced waste has been under researchers’ microscope as a useful feedstock for a number of promising applications. SCG is considered a valuable, nutrients rich source of bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, lipids, chlorogenic and protocatechuic acid, melanoidins, diterpenes, xanthines, vitamin precursors, etc.) and a useful resource material in other processes (e.g., soil improver and compost, heavy metals absorbent, biochar, biodiesel, pellets, cosmetics, food, and deodorization products). This paper aims to provide a holistic approach for the SCG waste management, highlighting a series of processes and applications in environmental solutions, food industry, and agricultural sector. Thus, the latest developments and approaches of SCG waste management are reviewed and discussed.
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