Eco-friendly technologies for obtaining antioxidant compounds and protein hydrolysates from edible insect Tenebrio molitor beetles.

The functional properties of edible insects can be explored by a joint use of novel technologies. This work applied varied pre-treatments (ultra-sound-assisted extraction, UAE; microwave-assisted extraction, MAE; temperature-assisted extraction, TAE; CO2-assisted extraction) and solvents (water, ethanol, water:ethanol) in Tenebrio molitor beetles to enhance the extraction of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. An enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) was performed in wet and treated biomasses to determine the protein hydrolysis.

Biorefinery of brewery spent grain to obtain bioproducts with high value-added in the market.

The brewery industry is under economic and environmental pressure to minimize residual management costs, particularly brewery spent grain (BSG), which accounts for 80-85% (w/w) of the total by-products generated. BSG is a lignocellulosic material primarily composed of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Developing a biorefinery model for conversion of BSG into value-added products is a plausible idea.

Biorefinery of Brewery Spent Grain by Solid-State Fermentation and Ionic Liquids.

Novel environmentally friendly pretreatments have been developed in recent years to improve biomass fractionation. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and treatment with ionic liquids show low environmental impact and can be used in biorefinery of biomass. In this work, these processes were assessed with brewery spent grain (BSG).

Deconstructing sugarcane bagasse lignocellulose by acid-based deep eutectic solvents to enhance enzymatic digestibility.

Biorefinery with deep eutectic solvent (DES) is an emerging processing technology to overcome the shortcomings of conventional biomass pretreatments. This work evaluates the biorefinery of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) with DES formulated with choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor and three hydrogen bond donors: lactic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid. Acetic acid showed unique ionic properties responsible for the selective removal of lignin and the deconstruction of cellulose to improve the digestibility of up to 97.

The Chemical, Microbiological and Volatile Composition of Kefir-like Beverages Produced from Red Table Grape Juice in Repeated 24-h Fed-Batch Subcultures.

The aim of this work was to study the production of kefir-like beverages via the fed-batch fermentation of red table grape juice at initial pHs of 3.99 (fermentation A) and 5.99 (fermentation B) with kefir grains during 4 repeated 24-h fed-batch subcultures.

Comparing the first and second waves of COVID-19 in a tertiary university hospital in Barcelona.

Background: Hospitals have constituted the limiting resource of the healthcare systems for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic progressed, knowledge of the disease improved, and healthcare systems were expected to be more adapted to provide a more efficient response. The objective of this research was to compare the flow of COVID-19 patients in emergency rooms and hospital wards, between the pandemic's first and second waves at the University Hospital of Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona, Spain), and to compare the profiles, severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients between the two waves.

Enhancing the saccharification of pretreated chestnut burrs to produce bacteriocins.

The present study aims to valorize chestnut burrs, an important lignocellulosic waste, through a biorefinery concept. A solid residue rich in glucan (41.36 ± 0.

Ligninolytic Enzymes of Endospore-Forming Bacillus aryabhattai BA03.

In this work we investigated the enzymes produced by Bacillus aryabhattai BA03, particularly in those involved in ligninolytic activities such as laccases (Lac), lignin peroxidases (LiP) and Mn-dependent peroxidase (MnD-P). In this way, the maximal production of Lac (0.069 ± 0.

Biotransformation of phenolic compounds by Bacillus aryabhattai.

Phenolic compounds could pose environmental problems if they are in excess, although they could be a renewable resource of substances with industrial interest. The novel strain Bacillus aryabhattai BA03 is able to produce high-added value metabolites from different phenolic compounds such as vanillin, 4-vinylguaiacol and 4-vinylphenol while inducing ligninolytic enzymes such as laccases (Lac) and lignin peroxidases (LiP). In comparison with the medium without inducers, the presence of 500 mg/L caffeic acid improved 9.

Effects of pH and sugar supplements on bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance production by Pediococcus pentosaceus.

To improve bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) production by Pediococcus pentosaceus ATCC 43200, the influence of pH as well as the addition of sugars-either prebiotic (inulin) or not (sucrose)-on its metabolism were investigated. This strain was grown at pH 5.0 or 6.

Valorization of chestnut (Castanea sativa) residues: Characterization of different materials and optimization of the acid-hydrolysis of chestnut burrs for the elaboration of culture broths.

Four kinds of waste from the industrial processing of chestnuts (Castanea sativa), namely leaves, pruned material and burrs from chestnut tree plus chestnut shells, were characterized to determine their content in polymers and thus their potential use in biorefinery processes. Results revealed that chestnut burrs have the highest polysaccharide content being the most promising for carrying out the subsequent stages of acid hydrolysis. Treatment with diluted sulfuric acid (prehydrolysis) allowed the solubilization of xylose, glucose and arabinose, but also some toxic compounds such as furan derivatives, aliphatic acids and phenolic constituents.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of brewer's spent grain to obtain fermentable sugars.

Lignocellulosic biomass is a feedstock with the potential to be converted into value-added bioproducts. The use of enzymatic hydrolysis allows the cleavage of lignocellulose into their monomeric units, but there are some drawbacks that make its use in industrial biocatalysis unfeasible. In the present study, we describe the hydrolysis of brewer's spent grain (BSG) with an enzymatic cocktail produced by Aspergillus niger CECT 2700 and its comparison with commercial enzymes.

Biorefining brewery spent grain polysaccharides through biotuning of ionic liquids.

Brewery spent grain (BSG), a relevant waste from beer industry mainly composed of polysaccharides and lignin, is experiencing a surge in the production with its associated environmental impact. Thus, this manuscript bets in the application of aqueous solutions of a cholinium-based ionic liquid (IL) containing glycinate as anion ([N][Gly]) for an efficient delignification pretreatment. The operation at 90 °C yielded drastic lignin reduction (75.

Electron tomography and fractal aspects of MoS and MoS/Co spheres.

A study was made by a combination of 3D electron tomography reconstruction methods and N adsorption for determining the fractal dimension for nanometric MoS and MoS/Co catalyst particles. DFT methods including Neimarke-Kiselev's method allowed to determine the particle porosity and fractal arrays at the atomic scale for the S-Mo-S(Co) 2D- layers that conform the spherically shaped catalyst particles. A structural and textural correlation was sought by further characterization performed by x-ray Rietveld refinement and Radial Distribution Function (RDF) methods, electron density maps, computational density functional theory methods and nitrogen adsorption methods altogether, for studying the structural and textural features of spherical MoS and MoS/Co particles.

Fed-batch production of vanillin by Bacillus aryabhattai BA03.

Bacillus aryabhattai BA03, a strain isolated in our laboratory, has interesting properties related to the production of natural aromas and flavors. Specifically, we have found that it was able to produce vanillin from ferulic acid (FA). Furthermore, this strain produces high amounts of 4-vinylguaiacol in only 14h, this being the only intermediate metabolite observed in the process.

Inhibitory substances production by Lactobacillus plantarum ST16Pa cultured in hydrolyzed cheese whey supplemented with soybean flour and their antimicrobial efficiency as biopreservatives on fresh chicken meat.

Cheese whey, the main byproduct of the dairy industry, is one of the most worrisome types of industrial waste, not only because of its abundant annual global production but also because it is a notable source of environmental pollution. However, cheese whey can serve as a raw material for the production of biocomposites. In this context, in this study, we assayed the production of a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) and lactate by culturing Lactobacillus plantarum ST16Pa in hydrolyzed fresh cheese whey.

Stimulating Effects of Sucrose and Inulin on Growth, Lactate, and Bacteriocin Productions by Pediococcus pentosaceus.

Sucrose and inulin, when combined with glucose, behaved as stimulating agents of bacteriocin production by Pediococcus pentosaceus ATCC 43200. When such microbial strain was grown in glucose-based Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium, without any additional supplement, it showed higher maximum cell concentration (2.68 ± 1.

Biological treatment of model dyes and textile wastewaters.

Previous works conducted in our laboratory, reveled that Bacillus aryabhattai DC100 produce ligninolytic enzymes such as laccases and/or peroxidases, opening new applications in different bioprocesses, including the treatment of disposal residues such as dyestuffs from textile processing industries. This work described the degradation of three commercial model dyes Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 (CBB), Indigo Carmine (IC) and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) under different culture media and operational conditions. The process was optimized using a Central Composite Rotatable Design, and the desirability predicted complete decolorization of 150 mg/L CBB at 37 °C, 304.

Optimisation of cheese whey enzymatic hydrolysis and further continuous production of antimicrobial extracts by Lactobacillus plantarum CECT-221.

The enzymatic hydrolysis of cheese whey was optimised using the enzymes iZyme, Alcalase or Flavourzyme under different conditions. Hydrolysates supplemented with commercial nutrients were evaluated as fermentation broths to produce DL-3-Phenyllactic acid (PLA) from phenylalanine (Phe) by Lactobacillus plantarum CECT-221. Optimised hydrolysates were obtained using Flavourzyme at 50 °C and 100 rpm during 12 h, and assayed in 250 ml Erlenemyer flasks using different proportions of vinasses as economic nutrient.

Bacillus aryabhattai BA03: a novel approach to the production of natural value-added compounds.

A strain designated as BA03, with the ability to transform ferulic acid into vanillin and 4-vinylguaiacol, was isolated from contaminated cryovials. The production of natural value-added compounds was dependent on the media employed. The morphological and physiological characteristics of this strain were compared with those of the typical vanillin-producer strain Amycolatopsis sp.

Use of Vine-Trimming Wastes as Carrier for Amycolatopsis sp. to Produce Vanillin, Vanillyl Alcohol, and Vanillic Acid.

Raw vine-trimming wastes or the solid residues obtained after different fractionation treatments were evaluated for their suitability as Amycolatopsis sp. immobilization carriers during the bioconversion of ferulic acid into valuable phenolic compounds such as vanillin, vanillyl alcohol, and vanillic acid, the main flavor components of vanilla pods. Previously, physical-chemical characteristics of the materials were determined by quantitative acid hydrolysis and water absorption index (WAI), and microbiological characteristics by calculating the cell retention in the carrier (λ).

Optimization of the process of aromatic and medicinal plant maceration in grape marc distillates to obtain herbal liqueurs and spirits.

Background: Herbal liqueurs are alcoholic beverages produced by the maceration or distillation of aromatic and medicinal plants in alcohol, and are also highly valued for their medicinal properties. The process conditions, as well as the number and quantity of the plants employed, will have a great influence on the quality of the liqueur obtained. The aim of this research was to optimize these important variables.

Ultrasounds pretreatment of olive pomace to improve xylanase and cellulase production by solid-state fermentation.

Olive mills generate a large amount of waste that can be revaluated. This work aim to improve the production lignocellulolytic enzymes by solid-state fermentation using ultrasounds pretreated olive mill wastes. The composition of olive mill wastes (crude and exhausted olive pomace) was compared and several physicochemical characteristics were significantly different.

Ferulic acid transformation into the main vanilla aroma compounds by Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116.

The wild strain Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 was explored in ferulic acid-based media to produce naturally the aroma components of the cured vanilla pod, namely vanillin,vanillic acid, and vanillyl alcohol. Other phenolic compounds(4-vinyl guaiacol, guaiacol, and protocatechuic acid) were also evaluated.

Enhancing the Bioconversion of Winery and Olive Mill Waste Mixtures into Lignocellulolytic Enzymes and Animal Feed by Aspergillus uvarum Using a Packed-Bed Bioreactor.

Wineries and olive oil industries are dominant agro-industrial activities in southern European regions. Olive pomace, exhausted grape marc, and vine shoot trimmings are lignocellulosic residues generated by these industries, which could be valued biotechnologically. In the present work these residues were used as substrate to produce cellulases and xylanases through solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus uvarum MUM 08.