Enhancing cellulose acetate biodegradability in cigarette filters: an in-depth analysis of thermal alkaline pretreatment, microbial dynamics, and breakdown pathway prediction.

Background: The demand for bioplastics has increased exponentially as they have emerged as alternatives to petrochemical plastics. However, there is a substantial lack of knowledge regarding bioplastic degradation. This study developed a novel pretreatment method to improve the accessibility of a bioplastic substrate for biodegradation.

Early cellular events and potential regulators of cellulase induction in Penicillium janthinellum NCIM 1366.

Cellulase production by fungi is tightly regulated in response to environmental cues, and understanding this mechanism is a key pre-requisite in the efforts to improve cellulase secretion. Based on UniProt descriptions of secreted Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes), 13 proteins of the cellulase hyper-producer Penicillium janthinellum NCIM 1366 (PJ-1366) were annotated as cellulases- 4 cellobiohydrolases (CBH), 7 endoglucanases (EG) and 2 beta glucosidases (BGL). Cellulase, xylanase, BGL and peroxidase activities were higher for cultures grown on a combination of cellulose and wheat bran, while EG was stimulated by disaccharides.

Anisotropic Alignment of Bacterial Nanocellulose Ionogels for Unconventionally High Combination of Stiffness and Damping.

Ionogels are emerging materials for advanced electrochemical devices; however, their mechanical instability to external stresses has raised concerns about their safety. This study reports aligned bacterial nanocellulose (BC) ionogel films swelled with the model ionic liquid (IL) of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF) for an unprecedented combination of high stiffness and high energy dissipation without significant loss of ionic conductivity. The aligned BC ionogel films are prepared through wet-state stretching methods, followed by drying and swelling by ILs.

Characterisation of bacterial nanocellulose and nanostructured carbon produced from crude glycerol by Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), which has tunable properties, is a precursor of nanostructured energy storage materials; however, the cost of BNC production is challenging. This study uses crude glycerol from the biodiesel industry as a carbon nutrient and first-time carbonised BNC from K. sucrofermentans that is applied in energy storage.

Draft genome of the glucose tolerant β-glucosidase producing rare Aspergillus unguis reveals complete cellulolytic machinery with multiple beta-glucosidase genes.

Draft genome sequence of the glucose tolerant beta glucosidase (GT-BGL) producing rare fungus Aspergillus unguis NII 08,123 was generated through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The genome size of the fungus was estimated to be 37.1 Mb.

Addressing challenges in production of cellulases for biomass hydrolysis: Targeted interventions into the genetics of cellulase producing fungi.

Lignocellulosic materials are the favoured feedstock for biorefineries due to their abundant availability and non-completion with food. Biobased technologies for refining these materials are limited mainly by the cost of biomass hydrolyzing enzymes, typically sourced from filamentous fungi. Therefore, considerable efforts have been directed at improving the quantity and quality of secreted lignocellulose degrading enzymes from fungi in order to attain overall economic viability.

Anaerobic co-digestion of bioplastics as a sustainable mode of waste management with improved energy production - A review.

The world of bioplastics has expanded rapidly in recent decades, and the new waste stream generated is creating major barriers to waste processing. Anaerobic co-digestion is to be considered one of the best options for the efficient processing of bioplastic waste due to its minimal space requirements, lower degrees of environmental pollution, and renewable energy generation. The higher carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of bioplastics poses a challenge to anaerobic digestion, but co-digestion with lower C/N ratio biowastes can efficiently degrade bioplastics and improve biogas production in the system.

Penicillium janthinellum NCIM1366 shows improved biomass hydrolysis and a larger number of CAZymes with higher induction levels over Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30.

Background: Major cost of bioethanol is attributed to enzymes employed in biomass hydrolysis. Biomass hydrolyzing enzymes are predominantly produced from the hyper-cellulolytic mutant filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30. Several decades of research have failed to provide an industrial grade organism other than T.

Correction to: Characterization of a glucose tolerant β-glucosidase from Aspergillus unguis with high potential as a blend-in for biomass hydrolyzing enzyme cocktails.

In the original publication of the article, the affiliation of two co-authors Prajeesh Kooloth-Valappil and Meera Christopher was published incompletely. The correct affiliation of the authors should read " Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India".

Pretreatment strategies for enhanced biogas production from lignocellulosic biomass.

The inclusion of a pretreatment step in anaerobic digestion processes increases the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass and enhances biogas yields by promoting lignin removal and the destruction of complex biomass structures. The increase in surface area enables the efficient interaction of microbes or enzymes, and a reduction in cellulose crystallinity improves the digestion process under anaerobic conditions. The pretreatment methods may vary based on the type of the lignocellulosic biomass, the nature of the subsequent process and the overall economics of the process.

Characterization of a glucose tolerant β-glucosidase from Aspergillus unguis with high potential as a blend-in for biomass hydrolyzing enzyme cocktails.

Objectives: Characterization of glucose tolerant beta glucosidase (GT-BGL) secreted by Aspergillus unguis NII 08123, determination of the gene and protein sequences of the enzyme and establishing its performance in blends for lignocellulose hydrolysis.

Results: Supplementation of A. unguis beta glucosidase (BGL) to cellulase released 1.

Non-conventional yeast cell factories for sustainable bioprocesses.

The non-conventional yeasts Kluyveromyces lactis, Yarrowia lipolytica, Ogataea polymorpha and Pichia pastoris have been developed as eukaryotic expression hosts because of their desirable growth characteristics, including inhibitor and thermo-tolerance, utilisation of diverse carbon substrates and high amount of extracellular protein secretion. These yeasts already have established in the heterologous production of vaccines, therapeutic proteins, food additives and bio-renewable chemicals, but recent advances in the genetic tool box have the potential to greatly expand and diversify their impact on biotechnology. The diversity of these yeasts includes many strains possessing highly useful, and in some cases even uncommon, metabolic capabilities potentially helpful for the bioprocess industry.

Production of Pectinase from MPTD1.

Seven isolates from spoiled fruits and vegetables were screened for pectinase production using pectin agar plates and the most efficient bacterial strain, MPTD1, was identified as Optimisation of various process parameters was done using Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs and it was found that parameters like yeast extract, KHPO, incubation time, NaNO and KCl have a negative impact on pectinase production. Parameters like pH and MgSO and pectin mass fractions have a positive impact on pectinase production. The maximum obtained enzyme activity was 2.

An effective surfactant-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment strategy for bioethanol production from chili post-harvest residue by separate hydrolysis and fermentation.

Surfactants play major role in the delignification of lignocellulosic biomass. Surfactant-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment was evaluated for chili post-harvest residue. Maximum reducing sugar yield of 0.

Recent developments in l-glutaminase production and applications - An overview.

l-glutaminases is an important industrial enzyme which finds potential applications in different sectors ranging from therapeutic to food industry. It is widely distributed in bacteria, actinomycetes, yeast and fungi. l-Glutaminases are mostly produced by Bacillus and Pseudomonas sp.

Molecular improvements in microbial α-amylases for enhanced stability and catalytic efficiency.

α-Amylases is one of the most important industrial enzyme which contributes to 25% of the industrial enzyme market. Though it is produced by plant, animals and microbial source, those from microbial source seems to have potential applications due to their stability and economic viability. However a large number of α-amylases from different sources have been detailed in the literature, only few numbers of them could withstand the harsh industrial conditions.

Development of a novel ultrasound-assisted alkali pretreatment strategy for the production of bioethanol and xylanases from chili post harvest residue.

A novel ultrasound-assisted alkali pretreatment strategy was developed which could effectively remove lignin and hemicelluloses and improve the sugar yield from chili post harvest residue. Operational parameters that affect the pretreatment efficiency were studied and optimized. Inhibitor analysis of the hydrolyzate revealed that major fermentation inhibitors like furfural, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural as well as organic acids like citric acid, succinic acid and propionic acid were absent.

Potential of rice straw for bio-refining: An overview.

The biorefinery approach for the production of fuels and chemicals is gaining more and more attraction in recent years. The major advantages of biorefineries are the generation of multiple products with complete utilization of biomass with zero waste generation. Moreover the process will be economically viable when it targets low volume high value products in addition to high volume low value products like bioethanol.

Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid mediated anti-oomycete activity of the endophytic Alcaligenes sp. EIL-2 against Phytophthora meadii.

The oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora meadii, causes various diseases in Hevea brasiliensis at different stages of its life cycle. The study reports the structural characterization of the active principle from the culture filtrate of Alcaligenes sp. EIL-2 (GenBank ID: HQ641257) offering antagonistic activity against P.

In silico characterization of a novel β-1,3-glucanase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens--a bacterial endophyte of Hevea brasiliensis antagonistic to Phytophthora meadii.

We report the molecular characterization of β-1,3-glucanase-producing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-an endophyte of Hevea brasiliensis antagonistic to Phytophthora meadii. After cloning and sequencing, the β-1,3-glucanase gene was found to be 747 bp in length. A homology model of the β-1,3-glucanase protein was built from the amino acid sequence obtained upon translation of the gene.