Treatment of Cigarette Butts: Biodegradation of Cellulose Acetate by Rot Fungi and Bacteria.

This study demonstrated the biodegradation of two different brands of cigarette butts (CBs), which are primarily composed of cellulose acetate, by four distinct microorganisms. These included the white rot fungus , the brown rot fungus , and the bacteria and . After 31 days of treatment, weight loss measurements revealed a mass loss of 24-34%, where exhibited the greatest efficacy in terms of mass loss for both brands of CBs.

Microbiological and Physicochemical Approach in the Feeding of Superworm () with Petroleum-Derived Polymer Diets.

Plastics are very versatile materials that have contributed to the development of society since the 19th century; however, their mismanagement has led to an accumulation of plastic waste in almost every ecosystem, affecting the fauna of the planet. However, recently, some studies have shown that some insects might be able to adapt, consuming a wide range of hydrocarbon base polymers. In this work, the adaptive capacity of larvae when feeding on different synthetic polymers derived from petroleum was studied.

Effects of turning aeration and the initial carbon/nitrogen ratio on the biodegradation of polylactic acid under controlled conditions.

Plastic pollution is primarily caused by the accumulation of petroleum-derived plastics, as they tend to degrade slowly. Sustainable alternatives to these materials are bio-based and biodegradable plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA). In this study, we assessed how turning aeration and the initial carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio impact PLA biodegradation.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Producing Glacial Acetic Acid from Poplar Biomass via Bioconversion.

Most of the current commercial production of glacial acetic acid (GAA) is by petrochemical routes, primarily methanol carbonylation. GAA is an intermediate in the production of plastics, textiles, dyes, and paints. GAA production from biomass might be an economically viable and sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived routes.

Production routes to bio-acetic acid: life cycle assessment.

Background: Similar to biofuels, numerous chemicals produced from petroleum resources can also be made from biomass. In this research we investigate cradle to biorefinery exit gate life cycle impacts of producing acetic acid from poplar biomass using a bioconversion process. A key step in developing acetic acid for commercial markets is producing a product with 99.

Synergistic effects of mixing hybrid poplar and wheat straw biomass for bioconversion processes.

Background: Low cost of raw materials and good process yields are necessary for future lignocellulosic biomass biorefineries to be sustainable and profitable. A low cost feedstock will be diverse, changing as a function of seasonality and price and will most likely be available from multiple sources to the biorefinery. The efficacy of the bioconversion process using mixed biomass, however, has not been thoroughly investigated.