Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhehua Chen, Gan Gu, Ziyun Wang, Dong Ou, Xianrui Liang, Changwei Hu, Xi Li
Summary: Tetracycline antibiotics can have toxic effects on freshwater microalgae, but at lower concentrations, the microalgae are able to recover and show enhanced photosynthetic activities. The transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes related to photosynthesis. This study provides insights into the environmental risk of Tetracycline antibiotics and their effects on photosynthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fahimeh Shahinnia, Suresh Tula, Goetz Hensel, Narges Reiahisamani, Nasrin Nasr, Jochen Kumlehn, Rodrigo Gomez, Anabella F. Lodeyro, Nestor Carrillo, Mohammad R. Hajirezaei
Summary: The study demonstrates that introducing Flv1 and Flv3 genes from cyanobacteria into chloroplasts of higher plants can enhance the tolerance of plants to drought stress, thus promoting plant growth and productivity. These genes improve the utilization of soluble sugars and amino acids in leaves, enhancing energy status and metabolic activity to ensure healthy growth of plants under stress conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qurat-ul-Ain, Arshad Javid, Shahid Ali, Ali Hasan, Natarajan Senthilkumar, Jambulingam Ranjitha, Ali Hussain
Summary: Comparing microalgal biomass production under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic conditions at lab and pilot scales, it was found that biomass productivity was higher under mixotrophic conditions. Further studies on utilizing different industrial wastewaters at pilot scale for microalgae production are needed for viable biofuel production.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Silvia Villaro, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Martina Ciardi, Francisco Javier Alarcon, Elisa Clagnan, Fabrizio Adani, Ainoa Morillas-Espana, Carlos Alvarez, Tomas Lafarga
Summary: This study investigated the cultivation of Tetradesmus almeriensis microalgae in a thin-layer cascade photobioreactor using different water sources. The results showed that biomass productivity and composition were significantly influenced by the type of water used, with freshwater yielding the highest biomass productivity. Additionally, microbial diversity also played a role in biomass composition and productivity.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Tayyab Sattar, Ali Raza, Shafaqat Ali, Shanzay Bashir, Farah Kanwal, Imran Khan, Muhammad Ali Raza, Sajad Hussain, Fei Shen
Summary: Bioenergy by-products, such as bottom ash, biochar, and biogas slurry, can enhance soybean growth and production by alleviating the effects of acidic soil. The synergistic use of these amendments was found to be most effective, significantly increasing biomass, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll pigments, photochemical activities, and yield.
Article
Environmental Sciences
N. M. Franco, D. A. N. O. Leite, L. N. M. Yabuki, M. B. T. Zanatta, A. A. Menegario, D. F. Angelis, D. E. C. Mazzeo
Summary: Water treatment plants are responsible for ensuring the quality and distribution of drinking water, generating significant waste known as sludge. This study assessed the biodegradability of water treatment sludge when applied to soil, showing that samples containing sewage sludge had the highest CO2 production and biodegradation efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mariana Jimenez Veuthey, Ainoa Morillas-Espana, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Elvira Navarro-Lopez, Gabriel Acien, Jose Gabriel Lopez-Segura, Tomas Lafarga
Summary: The utilization of effluents as nutrient sources for microalgae production is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. This study assessed the potential of using pig slurry as a nutrient source for outdoor production of Nannochloropsis gaditana, and found that the system was effective at removing pathogens from the slurry.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Virendra Singh, Abha Mishra, Pradeep Srivastava
Summary: The present research focused on the efficiency of two microalgae strains in co-cultivation mode for treating textile and domestic effluent. The co-cultivation mode achieved higher biomass concentration and productivity compared to monoculture cultivation mode. The mixotrophic co-cultivation mode also resulted in higher substrate removal efficiency. The study concluded that co-cultivation is a better strategy for treating high-strength industrial effluent.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ainoa Morillas-Espana, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Tomas Lafarga, Maria del Mar Morales-Amaral, Cintia Gomez-Serrano, Francisco Gabriel Acien-Fernandez, Cynthia Victoria Gonzalez-Lopez
Summary: The use of microalgae in processing urban wastewater showed positive results, increasing the volume of wastewater treated per square meter and biomass productivity. Nutrient removal was significantly influenced by permeate rate, with nitrate production by nitrifying bacteria also contributing to ammonia removal. Detection of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in the microalgae-bacteria samples further supported the efficiency of the system.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nur Atikah Aryanee Nadzri, Nazlina Haiza Mohd Yasin, Mimi Hani Abu Bakar, Suresh Thanakodi, Mohd Nur Ikhmal Salehmin, Mohd Sobri Takriff, Mohamad Faisal Ni Aznan, Toshinari Maeda
Summary: This study utilized microalgae species Chlamydomonas sp. (UKM6) and Scenedesmus sp. (UKM9) as the terminal electron acceptor in the cathode chamber of photosynthetic microbial desalination cells (PhMDC). The PhMDC-UKM9 and UKM6 achieved power densities of 1942 mW/m3 and 1714 mW/m3, with desalination rates of 44% and 32% respectively. The local microalgae species demonstrated integrated power production, wastewater treatment, and water purification comparable to commercial microalgae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Mantovani, Elena Collina, Francesca Marazzi, Marina Lasagni, Valeria Mezzanotte
Summary: Integrating microalgae into municipal wastewater treatment can reduce the carbon footprint, and the wastewater byproduct from hydrothermal carbonization can be used as a growth medium for microalgae without harming their activity or photochemical efficiency.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Carla R. M. Monteiro, Patricia F. Avila, Maria Angelica F. Pereira, Gabriela N. Pereira, Sidnei E. Bordignon, Eduardo Zanella, Boris U. Stambuk, Debora de Oliveira, Rosana Goldbeck, Patricia Poletto
Summary: Hydrothermal processing is a promising biorefinery technology for converting lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and biocompounds by selectively solubilizing and depolymerizing hemicellulose, with potential for obtaining xylooligosaccharides suitable for prebiotic applications.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Roger Moya, Carolina Tenorio, Allen Puente-Urbina, Catalina Rosales-Lopez, Jose Vega-baudrit
Summary: Pineapple leaf fibers were biopulped with Trametes versicolor and further bleached with xylanase-enzymatic treatment. The biopulping process resulted in significant changes in fiber morphology, chemical composition, and thermal stability. The xylanase-enzymatic treatment improved the whiteness and weight of the paper, but also decreased its mechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zishuai Jiang, Shih-Hsin Ho, Xin Wang, Yudong Li, Chengyu Wang
Summary: This study summarizes the advantages of cellulose-biomass materials in water treatment, including their unique structure, environmental friendliness, degradability, renewability, and low energy cost benefits. Future research directions include oil-water separation, heavy metal ions in water, and dye adsorption.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sepideh Soroush, Frederik Ronsse, Jihae Park, Stef Ghysels, Di Wu, Kyoung-Woong Kim, Philippe M. Heynderickx
Summary: This study optimized the production of hydrochar from waste seaweed through hydrothermal carbonization in a microwave process. The results showed that hydrochar produced with a holding time of 1 h by microwave heating had similar properties to hydrochar produced in a conventionally heated oven for 4 h. The analysis of energy consumption revealed that microwave assisted carbonization consumed more energy compared to conventional oven.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Ana Sanchez Zurano, Jose Maria Fernandez Sevilla, Ana Belen Esteban Garcia, Maria Guadalupe Pinna-Hernandez, Jose Luis Casas Lopez
Summary: This study describes the creation of a virtual laboratory using the Easy JavaScript Simulation platform. It focuses on the simulation of experiments in science, biotechnology, and engineering. A web-based simulation of an enzymatic stirred-tank bioreactor has been developed, allowing students to practice using practical scripts.
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rebecca Nordio, Francisco Javier Delgado, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Jose Gonzalez Hernandez, Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Jose Luis Guzman, Tomas Lafarga, Gabriel Acien
Summary: The present study aimed to evaluate the use of microalga Scenedesmus almeriensis for treating untreated urban wastewater. Two 12 m(3) raceway reactors, one supplemented with wastewater and the other with chemical fertilizer, were operated outdoors in a semi-continuous mode for eight months. The results showed that S. almeriensis could be produced in wastewater without affecting the photosynthetic apparatus, with an average productivity of 13 g center dot m(-2)center dot day(-1) in both systems. Moreover, the nutrient content of the wastewater, including nitrogen, phosphorous, and chemical oxygen demand, was reduced to meet European limitations, with average removal rates of 2.2, 0.2, and 3.0 g center dot m(-2)center dot day(-1) respectively. The raceway reactors demonstrated high potential for microalgal production and efficient biotreatment, proving to be robust and reliable. Additionally, an accurate model was developed to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on biomass productivity in the clean system (R-2 = 0.9, p = 0.0002).
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Silvia Villaro, Sergio Jimenez-Marquez, Evan Musari, Ruperto Bermejo, Tomas Lafarga
Summary: The microalga Arthrospira platensis BEA 005B was cultured in raceway photobioreactors, achieving a high biomass productivity of 28.2 g.m-2.day-1. The biomass contained abundant proteins and carbohydrates, as well as phycocyanins and allophycocyanins. The use of ultrasounds and high-pressure homogenisation efficiently recovered proteins, with ultrasounds requiring lower energy than high-pressure homogenisation. In silico analysis suggested that papain and ficin could release bioactive peptides with various health benefits, and in vitro evaluations confirmed their bioactivity along with Alcalase and pepsin.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph Santhi Pechsiri, Jean-Baptiste E. Thomas, Naoufel El Bahraoui, Francisco Gabriel Acien Fernandez, Jamal Chaouki, Saad Chidami, Rodrigo Rivera Tinoco, Jose Pena Martin, Cintia Gomez, Michel Combe, Fredrik Grondahl
Summary: This study compares the environmental performance of conventional reactors and a proposed internally illuminated novel closed reactor design. The results show that the novel photobioreactor can significantly reduce impacts such as eutrophication and climate change when leveraging renewable energy sources and the photosynthesis process in urban-industrial symbiosis scenarios.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elvira Navarro-Lopez, Juan Jose Gallardo-Rodriguez, Maria del Carmen Ceron-Garcia, Inmaculada Gallego-Lopez, Francisco Gabriel Acien-Fernandez, Emilio Molina-Grima
Summary: The effect of different parameters on the extraction of biostimulant molecules from microalgal biomass was investigated, and the optimal conditions for using organic green solvents (acetone or ethanol) were determined for maximum germination index.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Silvia Villaro, Gabriel Acien, Cynthia Victoria Gonzalez-Lopez, Elisa Clagnan, Tomas Lafarga
Summary: The present study aimed to produce the microalga Arthrospira platensis BEA 005B using 80 m2 raceway reactors and evaluate its potential use as a food color in macarons. The productivity of the system ranged between 8 and 10 g m- 2.day- 1 depending on the culture depth. The produced biomass mainly consisted of protein and contained valuable pigments.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Jesus Vizcaino Antonio, Andre Barany, Alba Galafat, Gabriel Acien, Felix L. Figueroa, Javier Alarcon Francisco, Miguel Mancera Juan, Juan Antonio Martos-Sitcha, Salvador Arijo, Roberto Teofilo Abdala-Diaz
Summary: The study found that the combined administration of Chlorella fusca and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus significantly improved the growth performance and feed utilization of the thick-lipped grey mullet, while enhancing the lipid quality and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This has potential benefits for human nutrition.
Article
Microbiology
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Rosa Maria Rico, Francisco Gabriel Acien, Juan Miguel Mancera, Felix L. Figueroa, Antonio Jesus Vizcaino, Francisco Javier Alarcon, Miguel Angel Morinigo, Roberto Teofilo Abdala-Diaz
Summary: This study investigates the effects of a blend of microalgae on Sparus aurata juveniles. The results show that the addition of microalgae tends to decrease body lipids and affects fatty acid profile. In particular, the diet containing 25% of the microalgae blend increases DHA levels. Additionally, this diet promotes appropriate microbial diversity and influences fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism in fish.
Article
Mathematics
Pablo Otalora, Jose Luis Guzman, Manuel Berenguel, Francisco Gabriel Acien
Summary: The industrial production of microalgae is a sustainable and interesting process, especially in terms of its applications in wastewater treatment. Neural network models have been developed to optimize the process and characterize the pH dynamics in different raceway reactors. These models are able to predict pH profiles using available measurable process data and demonstrate the potential of artificial neural networks in modeling continuous dynamic systems in the industry.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Bruna Rodrigues Moreira, Piedad Valverde-Guillen, Sofia Latorre-Redoli, Candela T. Caneda-Santiago, Gabriel Acien, Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares, Manuel Mari-Beffa, Roberto T. Abdala-Diaz
Summary: This study investigated the cytotoxic activity of ulvan polysaccharides obtained from Ulva rigida against human cancer cell lines and zebrafish embryos. The results showed that ulvan had cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines, particularly on colon cancer cells. However, ulvan also had negative effects on the growth rate and osmolar balance of zebrafish embryos, indicating that its use should be limited to specific concentrations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca Nordio, Emanuele Viviano, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Jose Gonzalez Hernandez, Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Jose Luis Guzman, Gabriel Acien
Summary: This study compares different pH and dissolved oxygen control strategies for microalgae production and proposes improved strategies to enhance productivity. The results show that the event-based control strategy is most effective when using freshwater plus fertilizer, while there are no significant differences among different control strategies when wastewater is the nutrient source.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Daniel Alvarez-Torres, Isabel M. Cerezo, Marta Dominguez-Maqueda, Felix L. Figueroa, Francisco Javier Alarcon, Gabriel Acien, Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares, Roberto T. Abdala-Diaz, Julia Bejar, Salvador Arijo
Summary: This study assessed the impact of dietary green microalgae and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus on thick-lipped grey mullet juvenile fish. The results showed that the diet influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota without affecting its functionality. Additionally, the diet effectively regulated the transcription of stress and immune-related genes, enhancing the fish's resistance against stress and infections.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. Sanchez-Zurano, S. Villaro-Cos, M. Ciardi, F. G. Acien-Fernandez, J. M. Fernandez-Sevilla, T. Lafarga
Summary: This study evaluates the potential use of Chlorella vulgaris for recovering nutrients from cheese whey and its impact on biomass production. The results show that Chlorella vulgaris can efficiently recover organic matter and nutrients from cheese whey, providing a sustainable alternative for the dairy industry.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Maria Guadalupe Pinna-Hernandez, Jose Luis Casas Lopez, Ana Belen Esteban Garcia, Ana Sanchez Zurano, Jose Maria Fernandez Sevilla
Summary: New technologies present opportunities for innovative educational methods, such as virtual laboratories that simulate real environments, reducing workload and costs associated with physical tests. This study implemented the solar photo-Fenton process in virtual labs to teach dynamics systems in chemical engineering, using the Easy JavaScript Simulation (EJsS) 6.0 tool. The virtual lab allows easy connection to different devices, simplifying technology-related teaching difficulties.
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION
(2023)