Search Results (221)

Two solvents, n-hexane and ethyl acetate, were employed to extract oil from Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. seeds using the Soxhlet extraction technique. The process was optimized using Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). ANOVA and a second-order polynomial equation were applied to evaluate the effects of key operational factors, including extraction time (20–60 min) and solvent-to-solid ratio (0.2–0.6 g/mL), on oil yield. The physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and functional groups of the extracted oil were analyzed. While both solvents influenced oil yield and quality, the fatty acid composition remained consistent, with unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, identified as the main components. Under optimized conditions, the highest oil yields were 22% with n-hexane and 19.91% with ethyl acetate. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of ester groups, suggesting potential applications in biodiesel production. These findings offer valuable insights for producing oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids for food, cosmetic and renewable energy industries. These findings pave the way for further advancements in industrial applications by promoting the sustainable use of plant-derived oils. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is grown worldwide to obtain edible oil, livestock feed, and biodiesel. However, drought and salt stress are becoming serious challenges to global soybean cultivation as they retard the growth of soybean plants and cause significant yield losses. Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) proteins are well-known for their role in drought and salt tolerance in crop plants. In this study, we identified 111 putative VDAC genes randomly distributed in genomes of 14 plant species, including cultivated soybean (Glycine max) and wild soybean (Glycine soja). The comparative phylogenetic studies classified these genes into six different clades and found the highest structural similarities among VDAC genes of G. max and G. soja. From the conserved domain database, porin-3 (PF01459) was found to be the conserved domain in all VDAC proteins. Furthermore, gene annotation studies revealed the role of GmaVDAC proteins in voltage-gated anion channel activity. These proteins were also found to interact with other proteins, especially mitochondrial receptors. A total of 103 miRNAs were predicted to target fifteen GmaVDAC genes. In G. max, these genes were found to be segmentally duplicated and randomly distributed on twelve chromosomes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the GmaVDAC18.2 gene showed overexpression in root nodules, whereas the GmaVDAC9.1, GmaVDAC18.1, and GmaVDAC18.2 genes showed overexpression under drought and salt stress conditions. Full article

Current biodiesel production is costly, in part due to the catalysts added during transesterification and later washed out. We have previously shown that intact rapeseed shells can be ball-milled with an alcohol to produce biodiesel without an added catalyst. Here, we report on the activation and identity of the complexing agent within the shells of rapeseeds and sunflower seeds. Lignin, present in the cell walls of plant matter, complexes with iron and manganese within metallic media, such as in a ball mill, and acts as a catalyst support in a transesterification reaction with oil and methanol. When ball-milled with methanol, rapeseed and sunflower seeds produce up to 90% biodiesel, similar to yields produced by industrial methods. However, this new method for producing biodiesel is a greener alternative, as it requires fewer organic solvents, may reduce the time and energy required for synthesis, and may reduce the effort required for product purification. Full article

The main goal of this study is to investigate the possibility of using residual materials (biomass derived from used cooking oils and lignocellulosic biomass from plant waste) on a large scale for producing renewable fuels and, in particular, the best way to collect them. The methodology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as well as spatial analysis (SA) techniques were used to investigate the Greek case for this. The data recorded in the geographic database were quantities of waste cooking and household oils as well as quantities of lignocellulosic biomass. The most common global and local indices of spatial autocorrelation were used. Concerning the biomass derived from used cooking oils, it was found that their quantities were important (163.17 million L/year), and these can be used to produce green diesel in the context of the circular economy. Although the dispersion of the used cooking oils was wide, there is no doubt that their concentration in large cities and tourist areas is higher. This finding suggests a collection process that could be carried out mainly in these areas through the development of small autonomous collection units in each neighborhood and central processing plants in small regional units. The investigation of the geographical–spatial distribution of residual lignocellulosic biomass showed the geographical fragmentation and heterogeneity of the distributions. The quantities recorded were significant (4.5 million tons/year) but widely dispersed, such that the cost of collecting and transporting the biomass to central processing plants could be prohibitive. The “geography” of the problem itself suggests solutions of small mobile collection units in every part of the country. The lignocellulosic biomass would be collected and converted in situ into bio-oil by rapid pyrolysis carried out in a tanker vehicle. This would transport the produced bio-oil to the nearest oil refineries for the conversion of bio-oil into biofuels through deoxygenation processes. Full article

Bio-oil energy use in agricultural systems provides sustainable solutions for powering machinery operations and heating and cooling environments in facilities. However, its potential in South Africa is constrained by the limited availability of energy substrate that does not compromise food production, land use, and water resources. This study investigated the physical and chemical properties of six invasive alien plant species (IAPs), three woody species (Acacia mearnsii, Eucalyptus grandis, and Pinus patula), and three nonwoody species (Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, and Solanum mauritianum) to assess their suitability for bio-oil production. Key analyses included structural, elemental, proximate, atomic ratio, higher heating value (HHV), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analyses. The results showed that woody IAPs had a significantly higher structural composition (p < 0.05), improving bio-oil yield. The bio-oil can be blended with diesel for agricultural use, while lignin-derived biochar serves as a soil amendment. Higher carbon and hydrogen contents enhanced HHV and combustion, while lower nitrogen and sulfur levels reduced emissions. Despite oxygen hindering pyrolysis, its bioactive properties support crop protection. Compared to South African coal, IAP-derived bio-oil shares similarities with peat coal and could be used for greenhouse heating. This study promotes energy efficiency in agriculture, reduces fossil fuel dependence, and supports environmental sustainability by repurposing IAPs. Additional studies should focus on lignin pretreatment and bio-oil upgrading to reduce oxygenated compounds. Full article

The field of bio-nanotechnology has seen significant advancements in recent years, particularly in the synthesis and application of bio-nanoparticles (BNPs). This review focuses on the green synthesis of BNPs using biological entities such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae. The utilization of these organisms for nanoparticle synthesis offers an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods, which often involve toxic reagents and high energy consumption. Phytochemicals present in plant extracts, unique metabolic pathways, and biomolecules in bacteria and fungi, and the rich biochemical composition of algae facilitate the production of nanoparticles with diverse shapes and sizes. This review further explores the wide-ranging applications of BNPs in various fields like therapeutics, fuel cells, energy generation, and wastewater treatment. In therapeutics, BNPs have shown efficacy in antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. In the energy sector, BNPs are being integrated into fuel cells and other energy generation systems like bio-diesel to improve efficiency and sustainability. Their catalytic properties and large surface area enhance the performance of these devices. Wastewater treatment is another critical area where BNPs are employed for the removal of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microbial contaminants, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to water purification. This comprehensive review highlights the potential of bio-nanoparticles synthesized through green methods. It highlights the need for further research to optimize synthesis processes, understand mechanisms of action, and expand the scope of their applications. BNPs can be utilized to address advantages and some of the pressing challenges in medicine, energy, and environmental sustainability, paving the way for innovative and sustainable technological advancements in future prospects. Full article

Municipal wastewater treatment plants produce vast amounts of sewage sludge as waste, with more than 80% dewatered sludge (DS). DS is a polymer-based sludge containing flocculant and extracellular polymeric substances, including lipids. Lipids can be converted into biodiesel as an alternative energy that reduces dependency on fossil fuels while helping cities manage waste more sustainably. Past studies explored the potential of lipids from various sewage sludges in biodiesel production. However, the potential of DS remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates the lipid extracted from DS and the potential of its fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) to be used as biodiesel. Lipid extraction was conducted under varying parameters, including temperatures of 70, 80, and 90 °C, extraction time of 2, 4, 6, and 8 h, and sludge-to-solvent (S/L) ratios of 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, and 0.175 g/mL. The optimal extraction conditions of 70 °C for 4 h at S/L of 0.175 g/mL yielded 1.71 ± 0.10% lipid. FTIR and TGA revealed that the DS lipids contain triglycerides, fatty acids, glycerol, and proteins. Transesterification of DS lipids produced DS FAME with a fatty acid profile ranging from C4:0 to C22:0. The evaluation of DS FAME revealed a high ester content (94.7%) of fatty acids ranging from C14:0 to C24:1, surpassing the minimum standard of 90% for biodiesel. The elevated proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in DS FAME is expected to result in a low melting point, reducing the solidifying effect and enhancing its performance as biodiesel. Full article

The plant growth-promoting bacterium, B. subtilis subsp. Spizizizenii, has been proven to develop a biofilm under certain culture conditions, which can be applied as an efficient bioinoculant. Biofilm can be produced cost-effectively using biodiesel byproduct glycerol as a carbon source. Soils from urban peripheries may contain very high lead (Pb) levels. The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of biofilm seed inoculation on plant development and fruit quality of tomatoes growing on a Pb-contaminated substrate. Also, effects of excess Pb on biofilm production, stability, and seed germination were analyzed. B. subtilis biofilm was produced with Pb concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 ppm. Biofilm stability was tested at 4 °C and 25 °C. The impacts of Pb and inoculation on seed germination were evaluated in laboratory conditions, while the impacts on plant agronomic parameters were assessed via a greenhouse assay. Adding Pb to the culture medium increased biofilm production by about 20%. Regardless of Pb level, biofilms were more stable at 4 °C than at 25 °C. Beneficial effects of biofilm on germination were greater on seeds exposed to 200 and 300 ppm Pb. Excess Pb significantly reduced plant biomass and tomato yield. However, biofilm inoculation significantly increased plant aboveground and root biomass, plant height, leaf area, fruit number, and fruit size, regardless of substrate Pb excess. Tomato fruits of plants grown in the metal-contaminated substrate showed no significant increases in Pb concentration with respect to the control. In summary, the biofilm produced by B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii proved to be an effective bioinoculant to counteract the negative effects of substrate excess Pb on tomato germination, growth, and production. Full article

Lipases are essential in many industrial processes. Although microbial lipases are widely used, plant lipases remain more accessible and abundant, particularly in germinated kernels. This study aims to evaluate the catalytic potential of lipase extract powder of germinated rubber kernels in transesterification reaction. Germinated rubber kernels, lipase extract powder of germinated rubber kernels, and crude oils of palm (PKO), Jatropha curcas (JCO), and rubber (RSO) were characterized. The presence of lipase in the plant extract powder was evidenced by FT-IR and SEM-EDX analyses and hydrolysis reaction. Biodiesel was produced from crude rubber oil. The results showed that germinated rubber kernels have high moisture (33.48%), protein (15.75%), and fat (50.11%) contents. The optimum hydrolytic activities of lipase on PKO, JCO, and RSO were 25.67 U/mL, 26.67 U/mL, and 31 U/mL, respectively, at pH 5. Lipase extract concentration, temperature, and storage time influenced the lipase hydrolytic activity. The optimum biodiesel yield (29.63%) was obtained at 30 °C. The addition of co-solvents (water and n-hexane) to the reaction mixture increased yields from 20.47% (without co-solvent) to 31.06% and 21.85%, respectively. These insights show that germinated rubber seeds are rich in oil and contain lipase with good hydrolytic and catalytic activity. Full article

Phytoremediation is recognized as a highly cost-effective technique for remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). Biomass residues from these remediated plants constitute a significant resource with considerable potential for biofuel conversion. However, the potential of these residues for biofuel production has not been extensively reviewed. This review aims to comprehensively review the recent progress in converting phytoremediated biomass into biofuels via various pathways. Methods for the disposal and biofuel conversion of residual phytoremediated biomass are summarized. The advantages and limitations of the different techniques are discussed and compared. These residues can be converted into gaseous (biogas/methane), liquid (biodiesel, bioethanol, and bio-oil), or solid energy forms (biochar, hydrochar). The conversion methods reviewed include anaerobic digestion, nanomaterial synthesis, incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis. HMs such as copper, cadmium, and zinc significantly influence these processes, enhancing them at lower concentrations but inhibiting them at higher concentrations. However, these conversion routes often involve high costs and complex operational conditions, and are typically limited to laboratory-scale, short-term trials. Therefore, there is an urgent need for multi-objective strategies that consider economic factors, viability, scalability, and environmental sustainability through sustainable pathways. Proper treatment of phytoremediated biomass with energy recovery presents an economically viable and environmentally sustainable solution. Full article

Understanding triacylglycerol (TAG) metabolism is crucial for developing algae as a source of biodiesel. TAGs are the main reservoir of energy in most eukaryotes. The final, rate-limiting step in the formation of TAGs is catalyzed by 1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs). In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, DGAT3 is phylogenetically related to plant DGAT3 but unrelated to other DGATs from eukaryotes, such as DGAT1 and DGAT2. In this study, we described the conformational preferences and the lipid-binding features of the DGAT3 from C. reinhardtii. To characterize its conformational stability and structural features, we used several biophysical probes, namely, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Our results showed that the protein was mainly disordered, containing a small population of folded conformations in a narrow pH range (pH 8 to 10). The conformational stability of the folded structure of DGAT3 was very low, as shown by urea or guanidinium denaturations. Thermal denaturation, followed by fluorescence or CD, as well as calorimetric denaturation, followed by DSC, did not yield any transition in the pH range where DGAT3 acquired a “native-like” conformation. Furthermore, we used two approaches to demonstrate the interaction of DGAT3 with lipid membranes at the pH at which it had acquired a “native-like” conformation. The first involved the measurement of anisotropy and fluorescence quenching of the protein. The second approach focused on examining possible modifications of the biophysical properties of lipids due to their interaction with DGAT3, through anisotropy measurements and leakage assays. Both methods produced consistent results, suggesting that DGAT3 preferentially interacted with negatively charged membranes. These results will allow the design of a more efficient and stable DGAT3, as well as an in-depth understanding of how the metabolism of TAGs is accomplished in C. reinhardtii. Full article

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.), an oilseed crop from the Compositae family, thrives in temperate and tropical climates. Its small seeds, rich in oil (50–60% biocrude), are widely used for biodiesel, soap production, and as a condiment in culinary applications. Additionally, harvested Niger plants serve as green manure, improving soil health. However, Niger cultivation in India has significantly declined over the past decade due to low yields, a poor seed set, self-incompatibility, a low harvest index, and seed shattering. A lack of genetic diversity further restricts breeders from developing high-yielding cultivars. The discovery of hereditary male sterility in India has facilitated heterosis utilization and laid the foundation for breeding improved varieties. This review explores the use of traditional breeding methods and genetic tools to enhance Niger, emphasizing plant tissue culture, molecular markers, and the identification of promising gene targets to produce desirable traits. Advanced technologies like CRISPR/Cas, including base and prime editing, are promising to revolutionize Niger breeding and functional genomics research. The insights in this paper stress the urgent need to genetically improve Niger and other underutilized oil crops to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable and diverse oil crops. Such interventions could transform Niger cultivation, ensuring its role in global agriculture. Full article

As a result of the energy crisis due, among other things, to climate change, most developed countries have taken steps with the main aim—among other things—of increasing the use of green energy sources that do not rely on fuels (including primarily liquid fuels) but use renewable energies. Plant biomass is a versatile substrate that can be used in many areas of the economy and production, but also for the production of various types of fuel. These range from rapeseed oil used as a component of biodiesel or maize starch for ethanol production to typically cellulosic plants such as energy willow, which can be used for direct combustion. The floodplain is home to this type of vegetation. It is characterized by great diversity in terms of geometric dimensions and mechanical and morphological properties. In addition, the location (easy access to water and sunlight) influences its potential energy value. Vegetation, thanks to favorable conditions, can achieve large weight gains in a relatively short period of time. Therefore, its properties should be carefully recognized in order to make more efficient use of energy and operating equipment used during harvesting. This paper presents an analysis of the changes in the elasticity of willow branches over a period of 16 days following harvesting. The changes were analyzed for branches taken from three different shrubs at three different plant height levels during the post-growth period. Based on the measurements carried out, the elastic modulus E of the shoots was estimated. The average modulus of elasticity ranged from about 4500 two days after cutting to about 5500 MPa 16 days after cutting and showed high variability, reaching even CV = 37%, both within a given shrub and depending on the measurement date. The results presented here indicate a high natural variability of mechanical parameters even within the same plant. Full article

This work shows a proposal for reducing emissions, fuel costs, and respiratory disease hospitalizations using environmental cost accounting principles for the production of biodiesel production from waste frying oil (WFO). PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃ data from 2017 to 2022 were collected and correlated with the number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases and their costs. WFO samples were collected locally from households and restaurants in the greater ABC region, Brazil, and biodiesel was produced using the samples. The results showed that throughout the studied period, one or more of the polluting gases showed a strong correlation with hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases, corroborating what has already been verified by other studies carried out by the WHO. WFO biodiesel was within the standard limits, and the total annual production was estimated to be 30,435 m³; moreover, the associated annual carbon credits would equal 67 tCO₂, as well as a decrease of 30% in total pollutant emissions. Environmental cost accounting revealed that the annual number of respiratory disease hospitalizations could decrease by 3093 and the associated healthcare cost would decrease by USD 838 thousand per year; moreover, the sale of biodiesel and byproducts can generate an annual profit of USD 19 million. The biodiesel plant project had an NPV of USD 172.5 million, a payback of 1 month, and a return on investment of more than 170 times the initial financing. In addition, the reputation and the quality of life of the greater ABC region’s residents could improve. Full article

Biodiesel and biolubricants play strategic roles in green technologies, as they can be produced in biorefineries. The design of industrial facilities is essential to assess the industrial implementation of these processes, with few studies about this subject in the literature. The aim of this work was to produce biodiesel and a biolubricant from waste cooking oil through double transesterification with methanol and trimethylolpropane, obtaining high conversion values (>97 and 98%, respectively). The biolubricant (characterized according to the UNE-14214 standard) had a density of 951 kg·m⁻³, a viscosity of 127 cSt (at 40 °C), an acidity value of 0.43 mgKOH·g⁻¹, flash and combustion points of 225 and 232 °C, and an oxidation stability of 6 h through the Rancimat method. Also, a kinetic study was carried out (at temperatures ranging from 80 to 140 °C and with catalyst concentrations from 0.3 to 0.9% w/w and working pressures from 210 to 760 mmHg) to establish the main kinetic parameters, obtaining a second-order reaction and an activation energy of 17.8 kJ·mol⁻¹. Finally, a conceptual design was included, considering the main components of the facility. Thus, the projected plant worked in a discontinuous regime (producing 2 cubic meters per day), pointing out the feasibility of this plant at an industrial scale. Full article