Pulping of Sugarcane Bagasse Using Ceriporiopsis subvermispora SS-33 and Ophiostoma piliferum as a Fungal Bio-agents

RAGASSE is an agricultural by product from sugar cane after the cane is harvested and crushed to extract the juice. The utilization of bagasse as raw material for pulp and paper industry is increasing rapidly which also increasing pollution to the environment. In renewable resource to reduce chemical pollution, white rot fungi or lignin-degrading fungi was employed to contribute to remove lignin from raw materials. The aim of this investigation, is to determine the activity of white-rot fungi on bagasse as in in vivo biopulping or pre-treatment by comparing the lignin content of bagasse before and after the biodegradation in different conditions. It was found that the most favorable conditions for bagasse pulping can be achieved by treatment with propylene glycol [PG] 90% under pressure for 1 h or without pressure for 2 h at the cooking temperature 150°C. The mentioned treatments gave high pulp yield, with no rejects and low kappa number. The extractive removal of bagasse [10 mesh] by steam resulted to high weight loss, acid perceptible polymeric lignin [APPL] production and low kappa number. The biological 4 weeks treatment of bagasse by Ophiostoma piliferum at 27°C increased the brightness, breaking length and tear factor of unbleached bagasse paper sheets. when compared with steam treatment. Using mixed culture of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and O. piliferum either from one or two-stage cultures for extractive removal and biodegradation of bagasse, led to the improvement the chemical pulp composition and the properties of unbleached paper sheets. One stage culture treatment increased the unbleached paper sheets properties which expressed as brightness, breaking length and tear factor by 5.6%. 0.08 km and 3.78, compared with the two-stage culture treatment results, which were 3.08%, 21.41 km and 3.69, respectively . The mentioned results were more convenient when compared with steam extraction method. Scanning electron micrographs [SEM] revealed that the biological fibers of the produced paper sheets exhibit a cleaner surface, high flexibility and conformability, which would be contributed to the good bonding nature

Evaluation of fungal xylanase and lignin peroxidase in bio-bleaching of sugar cane bagasse biopulping

FUNGAL xylanase and lignin peroxidase enzymes were used as pretreatment for biobleaching of bagasse biopulping treated with mixed culture of Ophiostoma piliferum and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora SS- 33 at 27°C for one week in MV medium as static culture before the pulping with propylene glycol [PG]. Some agricultural wastes such as corn cobs, wheat bran and bagasse powder were used as a sole carbon source for xylanase production. The maximum production of fungal xylanase was attained after 7 days- fermentation period on corn cobs medium at 30°C on rotary shake flasks at 150 rpm. The enzyme production by Trichoderma reesie NRRL 6156 increased 1.17 fold as compared with that obtained by Trichoderma viride NRRL 13034.Using 10.30 IU xylanase/g bagasse biopulp, produced by Trtchoderma reesie NRRL 6156, for 4 h at 50°C was the best xylanase pretreatment which reduced klason lignin% and increased the brightness % of bagasse biopulp. The solid-state HC-LN medium supplemented with tween 60 and veratryl alcohol in addition to 10 grams of bagasse pulp was the best one for lignin peroxidase production by Phanerochaete chrvsosporium NRRL 6361, the enzyme activity of this treatment [77.75 IU/L] was higher than that obtained using semi-solid [47.75 IU/L] and liquid [36.50 IU/L] state, after 6 days incubation period. The optimum lignin peroxidase dose, for the best biobleaching of unbleached bagasse biopulp at 37°C for 8 h was 1.54 lU/g. Using these enzyme pretreatments led to increase the brightness %, breaking length and tear factor 6.7, 18.89 and 12.7 % by xylanase bleached bagasse [XBB] and 8.94 %, 34.92 and 30.82 %, by lignin peroxidase bleached bagasse [LBB], respectively. The enzyme treatment of LBB and XBB led to decrease of chlorine consumption 40% and 26.67 % as compared to control. Scanning electron microscope [SEM] of bleached bagasse pulp clearly showed fiber that exposed to enzymes treatment had a more open surface and it becomes more accessible to subsequent bleaching agents. The biologicaly pretreatment of bagasse pulp with xylanase orlignin peroxidase enzymes led to increase in the crystallinty by 11.29 and 8.3 %, respectively

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate [PHAs] and copolymer [P[HB-co-HV]] by soil bacterial isolates in batch and two-stage batch cultures

NINETY TWO local bacterial isolates, from the rhizosphere and soil around the root system of bean [Viciafaba] grown in Kalubia Governorate in Egypt, were bio-prospected for polyhydroxyalkanoate [PHA] accumulation. Three isolates accumulated >/=20% of PHAs, they were identified as Pseudomonas flu orescens S48, Bacillus megaterium 7A and B. megaterium UBFI9. The tested isolates gave the maximum PHAs content on basal medium containing glucose and ammonium sulfate at C/N ratio of 30/1 after 72 hr at 30°C using shake flask culture technique. Two-stage batch were implemented with varying loading levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, inoculated with washed cells. Nitrogen omission of 70% led to increase the PHAs content by 19%, 3% and 8.5% using washed cells of Ps. fluorescens S48, B. megaterium UBF 19 and Bacillus megaterium 7A, respectively comparing with batch production on the same medium after 72 hr. The Copolymer poly[hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate] [P [HB-co-HV]] content level was increased when valerie/glucose [V/G] was 0.19 mol.mo[-1] after 96 hr being 25.97% and 20.11% by Ps. fluorescens S48 and B. megaterium UBFI9, respectively and reached 23.73% by B. megaterium 7A at propionic/glucose [PIG] of 0.5 mol.mol[-1]. The corresponding highest values of valeric content of copolymer at V/G 3.08 mol.mol[-1] were 63%, 49% and 45%, respectively, comparing with other V/G ratios by using GC analysis . Replacing glucose with 2% corn oil or 1% soybean oil increased the PHAs content of Ps. fluorescens S48 cells to 54.21% and 52.12%, respectively, after 72

Biological evaluation of fungal deteriorated archeological wood [Islamic period] and the impact of using some fungicides

EIGHTY SEVEN fungal isolates were obtained from the surface of biodeteriorated ceiling wood [No.1803, 1539] from the Islamic museum, Cairo. Egypt [Islamic period]. Isolates belonging to eight main genera of fungi were identified, in the following frequencies: Acremonium 2,3%,, Alternaria 11,5%, Aspergillus 37.8%, Botryotrichum 2.3%,, Epicoccum 3.5%,, Fusarium 6.9%,, Penicillium 29,9°/o and Stemphvlium 5.7%. In a series of trials cellulase production was maximal for all fungal strains when grown on medium containing 4-6% of wood straw [at pH 4.5-5 after 1015 days at 30°C, whereas the maximum production of pectinase was attained on medium containing 6% wood straw at pH 4.5-5 after 10-15 days at 30°C -35°C. Application of the fungicides dichioroxylenol, paracresol anc pentachiorophenol are recommended for use at 1000, 500 and 1000 ppm respectively, based on protection of artificially infected wood. Infected wood lost 40.1% of its bending strength, loss was attained increased density and water absorption compared with non infected wood. The lowest bending strength loss was attained with dichloroxylenol [14.5%] followed by wood treatment with pentachiorophenol or paracresol [34.2%]

Kinetic behaviour of proteolytic enzymes on yeast protein

The maximum velocity of the coupling reaction of pepsin and pancreatin on cell lysis higher for a C. utilis mutant, strain, being 0.68 and 1.0 for pepsin and pancreatin respectively. The enzyme velocity constant [k] for the C. utilis mutant was 0.0229 for pepsin and 0.278 for pancreatin. The high digestibility of this strain was due to its low glucan content [1.6%] compared with other strains. A higher levels of lysin was recorded for C. Utilis mutant [5.02% DW]. Methionine content of the mutant was higher than the parent [0.91% to 0.82% DW, respectively]

Factors affecting production of citric acid by saccharomycopsis lipolytica 70561 using a fermentor as a batch culture technique

Factors affecting production of citric acid production [i.e. Nitrogen: glucose ratio, aeration and agitation speed] by Saccharomycopsis lipolytica 70561 growing on modified medium No. IV at 28C for 216 hr as a batch culture in the fermentor were studied. The maximum yield of citric acid was obtained using one volume of air per one volume medium per minute at 300 rpm agitation speed and a nitrogen: glucose ratio of 0.8 x 10-2. Positive correlations of citric acid production with sugar consumption and yeast density was detected at different levels of aeration

Physio-chemical properties of glucose-oxidase

Physical and chemical properties of glucose oxidase from Penicillium chrysogenum were investigated. Results showed that the enzyme is highly specific for b-D-gluco-pyranose. Removal of CH2O group to form pentose reduced the rate of oxidation to zero. Different hexoses such as galactose, mannose and fructose were studied. Analytical results for the enzyme showed that it contained 17% followed residues. Mannose was the most abundant [12%] followed by glucosamine [3.4%] and galactose [1.5%]. Application of the enzyme preparation for glucose determination in different materials was studied

Regulation of urea hydrolyses in soils using some organic compounds

The inhibitory effects of eleven organic compounds on soil urease activity were studied. The most effective three compounds in retardation of urea degradation were investigated as regulators of the hydrolysis of urea in silty clay soil. The use of hydroquinone, catechol and caffeic acid as regulators of urea-N transformation in soil as well as ammonia volatilization revealed the capacity of such compounds to retard hydrolysis of urea and the nitrification process. They promoted the accumulation of NH, -N and decreased the NO2- and NO3-N formation. These activities qualify these compounds to be useful as regulators of urea-N transformation aiming at the reduction of nitrite toxicity problems associated with the use of urea as fertilizer. They also could decrease the possibility of gaseous loss of urea-N through chemodenitrification and reduce the contribution of fertilizer urea to nitrate enrichment of ground and surface water. However, the gaseous loss of urea-N as ammonia still remains a problem, especially in alkaline soil

Survival of enterotoxigenic staphylococcus aureus type A in Egyptian butter

A survey study of forty butter samples from different localities in Egypt were examined for the enterotoxigenic Staph. aureus. Staphylococci were detected in 77.5% of total samples with an average count of 80x105 org./g. Enterotoxins A and B were detected in 4 and one samples of butter respectively. Twenty two percent of isolated coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were able to produce enterotoxin A or B. Farmers butter and factory-made butter, artificially contaminated with Staph. Aureus, were analyzed for enterotoxin and thermonuclease [TNase] during manufacturing and storage. TNase and enterotoxin were detected only in farmers' butter made from cream contaminated with high level of Staph. aureus [Telda 106 org/g]

Protein production from candida utilis in continuous culture

Candida utilis CBS 621 was propagated in the fermentor as a continuous culture using bagasse hydrolysate medium supplied at different dilution rates, ranging from 0.012 to 0 028h[-1]. Results showed that dilution rates resulted in considerable variation in the biologicol activity of C, utilis CBS-621. The highest productivity was recorded at a dilution rate of 0.022 h[-1] where yeast density, yield factor, effective yield, C/N content [4.46] and nitrogen consumption rate reached their maxima. Washing out of culture occured at a dilution rate of 0.028 h-1. The amount of consumed carbon required for production of one gram carbon biomass was found to range from 2.21 to 3.05. The amount of consumed carbon to nitrogen and the C/N biomass were 9.37 and 4.24 at 0.022 h[-1] dilution rate. The protein content, carbon content and total ash of C. utilis CBS 621 were 42.1%, 93.4% and 6.5% respectively

Effect of substrate pretreatment on microbial protein production

The effect of chemical treatments of sawdust, cane sugar bagasse and corn cobs on microbial protein production was investigated. Treating cane sugar bagasse with 0.2% H2SO4, corn cobs with 0.6% H2SO, and sawdust with 0.8% H2SO4 at 122.0§C for 60 minutes increased their reducing sugar contents. Candida pelliculosa P6 was the most active strain utilizing the three tested agricultural residues. It gave the highest growth density of 7.5, 9.0 and 21.75 g dried cells litre[-1] on sawdust, bagasse and corn cobs respectively, Chemical composition of the most active strains of yeast were studied