Acid insoluble lignin material production by chemical activation of olive endocarps for an efficient furfural adsorption-removal from aqueous solutions.

The present work describes a protocol of chemical activation, with acid catalyst, of olive endocarps to obtain acid insoluble lignin-rich materials with high capacities for the adsorption of furfural present in aqueous media. During biomass activation, factors such as acid concentration, reaction time and temperature, solid/liquid ratio and the presence of water extractives strongly affected both the surface characteristics of the treated bioadsorbents and their capacities for furfural retention (percentage increase close to 600% with respect to the crude biomass). Once a treated solid with good adsorbent properties was obtained, the optimal conditions for adsorption were found: stirring speed 80 rpm, temperature 303 K and adsorbent load 7.

Perceptions of the local beekeepers on the diversity and flowering phenology of the melliferous flora in the community of Xmabén, Hopelchén, Campeche, Mexico.

Background: The knowledge of native melliferous flora (MF) may contribute to identify the diversity of species available for beekeeping activities during the dry and rainy seasons of the year in the Yucatan Peninsula (YP) region. The acute shortage of food resources considerably reduce local honey production and needs to be addressed appropriately. The objective of this study has been identifying the local MF, their nectar and pollen contribution, their flowering patterns, and the criteria of the vegetation to be established adjacent to local apiaries for stable production of quality honey.

Enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated almond-tree prunings for sugar production.

Almond-tree prunings (ATP), an agricultural residue largely available in Mediterranean countries, were pretreated with either hot water or dilute sulphuric acid at 180-230 °C. Solids derived from hot water pretreatments were further submitted to alkaline peroxide delignification. In addition, all solids obtained from the three mentioned processes were hydrolysed by cellulases and β-glucosidases to investigate their enzymatic digestibilities.