Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.7
4.6
Journals
Molecules
Special Issues
Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development
molecules-logo
Submit to Molecules Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2022) | Viewed by 53516

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Agnieszka Saeid

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wyspiańskiego 42, 50-376 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: waste valorization; applied microbiology; biofertilizers; phosphorus; microbial solubilization; soil microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Witold Kwapinski

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Chemical Sciences Department, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
Interests: biorefinery; theorem-chemical biowaste conversion; adsorption; nutrients recovery; catalyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

European Commission has created a list of critical raw materials (CRMs) for the EU that presents the raw materials that are crucial to Europe’s economy with high risk associated with their supply. As a result of this, a few European countries made the recycling processes obligatory for example for phosphorus. Since the critical raw materials are non-renewable at human timescales we are forced to elaborate long-term strategies for the development of technology for new kinds of chemical industry products from recycled materials, their treatment and processing.

Over the past decade, biobased chemicals have received significant attention as candidate resource materials in production processes due to their renewability. The substitution of conventional raw materials with biobased requires a new approach to the development of technology. On the other hand, the use of biobased chemicals offers a host of a new palette of products that are natural and thus their application does not pose an impact on the environment (residues).

Biobased chemicals will become a promising potential group of products for different branches of industry in the future. A global shift to a ‘green’ chemistry, bio-based economy is currently underway. Replacement of conventional chemicals with bio alternatives derived from renewable biological resources is the modern trend in current legislation and consequently in industrial practice. The economic, environmental aspects of the utilization of biobased chemical products are being elaborated. In many cases through microbial conversion, as well as by utilization of bio-intermediates, new valuable, highly bioactive products can be received.

We invite overview and original papers describing current and expected challenges along with potential solutions for biobased chemicals that offer a new environmentally friendly approach in industry and agriculture. Both experimental and theoretical papers are welcome.

Dr. Agnieszka Saeid
Dr. Witold Kwapinski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioplastics, bio-based polymers for plastic
  • plant-based raw materials
  • surfactants
  • polymers
  • lubricants
  • adhesives
  • paints
  • solvents
  • fertilizers
  • feed additives
  • biostimulants
  • biosorption
  • bioaccumulation
  • microbial solubilization
  • extraction
  • natural products

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (15 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 376 KiB  
Article
Phosphorus Fertilizers from Sewage Sludge Ash and Animal Blood as an Example of Biobased Environment-Friendly Agrochemicals: Findings from Field Experiments
by Magdalena Jastrzębska, Marta K. Kostrzewska and Agnieszka Saeid
Molecules 2022, 27(9), 2769; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27092769 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1971
Abstract
Wastes of biological origin from wastewater treatment systems and slaughterhouses contain substantial amounts of phosphorus (P) with high recovery potential and can contribute to alleviating the global P supply problem. This paper presents the performance of fertilizer (AF) and biofertilizer (BF) from sewage [...] Read more.
Wastes of biological origin from wastewater treatment systems and slaughterhouses contain substantial amounts of phosphorus (P) with high recovery potential and can contribute to alleviating the global P supply problem. This paper presents the performance of fertilizer (AF) and biofertilizer (BF) from sewage sludge ash and animal blood under field conditions. BF is AF incorporated with lyophilized cells of P-solubilizing bacteria, Bacillus megaterium. In the experiments with spring or winter wheat, the biobased fertilizers were compared to commercial P fertilizer, superphosphate (SP). No P fertilization provided an additional reference. Fertilizer effects on wheat productivity and on selected properties of soil were studied. BF showed the same yield-forming efficiency as SP, and under poorer habitat conditions, performed slightly better than AF in increasing yield and soil available P. Biobased fertilizers applied at the P rate up to 35.2 kg ha–1 did not affect the soil pH, did not increase As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb content, and did not alter the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in the soil. The findings indicate that biobased fertilizers could at least partially replace conventional P fertilizers. Research into strain selection and the proportion of P-solubilizing microorganisms introduced into fertilizers should be continued. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
14 pages, 4481 KiB  
Article
Effect of Atmospheres on Transformation of Heavy Metals during Thermal Treatment of MSWI Fly Ash: By Thermodynamic Equilibrium Calculation
by Facun Jiao, Xulong Ma, Tao Liu, Chengli Wu, Hanxu Li and Zhongbing Dong
Molecules 2022, 27(1), 131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27010131 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2291
Abstract
The vaporization behaviors of eight heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, and Ni) in municipal solid wastes incineration (MSWI) fly ash during thermal treatment under air atmosphere (21% O2/79% N2), an inert atmosphere (100% N2 [...] Read more.
The vaporization behaviors of eight heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, and Ni) in municipal solid wastes incineration (MSWI) fly ash during thermal treatment under air atmosphere (21% O2/79% N2), an inert atmosphere (100% N2), and a reducing atmosphere (50% CO/50% N2) were evaluated based on a thermodynamic equilibrium calculation by FactSage 8.1. The results show that the reducing atmosphere promotes the melting of MSWI fly ash, resulting in a more liquid phase than in air or an inert atmosphere. Except for Cd, the formation of liquids can dissolve heavy metals and reduce their vaporization ratio. In the air and inert atmospheres, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, and Ni vaporize mainly in the form of metallic chlorides, while Cd volatilizes in the form of metallic Cd (g) and CdO (g). In the reducing atmosphere, Co, Mn, and Ni still vaporize as chlorides. Zn and Cd mainly vaporize in the form of Zn (g) and Cd (g), respectively. In terms of Pb, in addition to its chlorides, the volatiles of Pb contain some Pb (g) and PbS (g). Cr has a low vaporization ratio, accounting for 2.4% of the air atmosphere. Cr, on the other hand, readily reacts with Ca to form water-soluble CrCaO4, potentially increasing Cr leaching. Except for Cd, the results of this study suggest that the reducing atmosphere is used for the thermal treatment of MSWI fly ash because it promotes the melting of fly ash and thus prevents heavy metal vaporization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 10169 KiB  
Article
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, and CO2 Efflux in the Calcareous Sandy Loam Soil Treated with Chemically Modified Organic Amendments
by Ahmed Mohammed-Nour, Mohamed Al-Sewailem, Ahmed H. El-Naggar, Mohamed H. El-Saeid, Anwar A. Aly and Jamal Elfaki
Molecules 2021, 26(16), 4707; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26164707 - 04 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2341
Abstract
In Saudi Arabia, more than 335,000 tons of cow manure is produced every year from dairy farming. However, the produced cow manure is usually added to the agricultural soils as raw or composted manure; significant nitrogen losses occur during the storage, handling, and [...] Read more.
In Saudi Arabia, more than 335,000 tons of cow manure is produced every year from dairy farming. However, the produced cow manure is usually added to the agricultural soils as raw or composted manure; significant nitrogen losses occur during the storage, handling, and application of the raw manure. The recovery of ammonia from cow manure through thermochemical treatments is a promising technique to obtain concentrated nitrogen fertilizer and reducing nitrogen losses from raw manure. However, the byproduct effluents from the recovery process are characterized by different chemical properties from the original raw manure; thus, its impact as soil amendments on the soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics is unknown. Therefore, a 90-day incubation experiment was conducted to study the impact of these effluents on CO2 efflux, organic C, microbial biomass C, available NH4+, and NO3− when added to agricultural soil. In addition to the two types of effluents (produced at pH 9 and pH 12), raw cow manure (CM), composted cow manure (CMC), cow manure biochar (CMB), and control were used for comparison. The application of CM resulted in a considerable increase in soil available nitrogen and CO2 efflux, compared to other treatments. Cow manure biochar showed the lowest CO2 efflux. Cumulative CO2 effluxes of cow manure effluents were lower than CM; this is possibly due to the relatively high C:N ratio of manure effluent. The content of P, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn decreased as incubation time increased. Soil microbial biomass C for soil treated with cow manure effluents (pH 12 and 7) was significantly higher than the rest of the soil amendments and control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1427 KiB  
Article
Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials
by Mahrous Awad, M. A. El-Desoky, A. Ghallab, Jan Kubes, S. E. Abdel-Mawly, Subhan Danish, Disna Ratnasekera, Mohammad Sohidul Islam, Milan Skalicky, Marian Brestic, Alaa Baazeem, Saqer S. Alotaibi, Talha Javed, Rubab Shabbir, Shah Fahad, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman and Ayman EL Sabagh
Molecules 2021, 26(11), 3360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26113360 - 02 Jun 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3652
Abstract
Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when [...] Read more.
Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 616 KiB  
Article
Exogenous Sodium Nitroprusside Mitigates Salt Stress in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) by Affecting the Growth, Yield, and Biochemical Properties
by Tauqeer Ahmad Yasir, Ayesha Khan, Milan Skalicky, Allah Wasaya, Muhammad Ishaq Asif Rehmani, Naeem Sarwar, Khuram Mubeen, Mudassir Aziz, Mohamed M. Hassan, Fahmy A. S. Hassan, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal, Marian Brestic, Mohammad Sohidul Islam, Subhan Danish and Ayman EL Sabagh
Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2576; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26092576 - 28 Apr 2021
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 4189
Abstract
Soil salinity disrupts the physiological and biochemical processes of crop plants and ultimately leads to compromising future food security. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a contributor to nitric oxide (NO), holds the potential to alleviate abiotic stress effects and boost tolerance in plants, whereas less [...] Read more.
Soil salinity disrupts the physiological and biochemical processes of crop plants and ultimately leads to compromising future food security. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a contributor to nitric oxide (NO), holds the potential to alleviate abiotic stress effects and boost tolerance in plants, whereas less information is available on its role in salt-stressed lentils. We examined the effect of exogenously applied SNP on salt-stressed lentil plants by monitoring plant growth and yield-related attributes, biochemistry of enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD)) amassing of leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Salinity stress was induced by NaCl application at concentrations of 50 mM (moderate salinity) and 100 mM (severe salinity), while it was alleviated by SNP application at concentrations of 50 µM and 100 µM. Salinity stress severely inhibited the length of roots and shoots, the relative water content, and the chlorophyll content of the leaves, the number of branches, pods, seeds, seed yield, and biomass per plant. In addition, MDA, H2O2 as well as SOD, CAT, and POD activities were increased with increasing salinity levels. Plants supplemented with SNP (100 µM) showed a significant improvement in the growth- and yield-contributing parameters, especially in plants grown under moderate salinity (50 mM NaCl). Essentially, the application of 100 µM SNP remained effective to rescue lentil plants under moderate salinity by regulating plant growth and biochemical pathways. Thus, the exogenous application of SNP could be developed as a useful strategy for improving the performance of lentil plants in salinity-prone environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2247 KiB  
Article
Production of Biodegradable Polymer from Agro-Wastes in Alcaligenes sp. and Pseudomonas sp.
by R. Z. Sayyed, S. S. Shaikh, S. J. Wani, Md Tabish Rehman, Mohammad F. Al Ajmi, Shafiul Haque and Hesham Ali El Enshasy
Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2443; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26092443 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4123
Abstract
The present study was aimed to evaluate the suitability of agro-wastes and crude vegetable oils for the cost-effective production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), to evaluate growth kinetics and PHB production in Alcaligenes faecalis RZS4 and Pseudomonas sp. RZS1 with these carbon substrates and to [...] Read more.
The present study was aimed to evaluate the suitability of agro-wastes and crude vegetable oils for the cost-effective production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), to evaluate growth kinetics and PHB production in Alcaligenes faecalis RZS4 and Pseudomonas sp. RZS1 with these carbon substrates and to study the biodegradation of PHB accumulated by these cultures. Alcaligenes faecalis RZS4 and Pseudomonas sp. RZS1 accumulates higher amounts of PHB corn (79.90% of dry cell mass) and rice straw (66.22% of dry cell mass) medium respectively. The kinetic model suggests that the Pseudomonas sp. RZS1 follows the Monod model more closely than A. faecalis RZS4. Both the cultures degrade their PHB extract under the influence of PHB depolymerase. Corn waste and rice straw appear as the best and cost-effective substrates for the sustainable production of PHB from Alcaligenes faecalis RZS4 and Pseudomonas sp. RZS1. The biopolymer accumulated by these organisms is biodegradable in nature. The agro-wastes and crude vegetable oils are good and low-cost sources of nutrients for the growth and production of PHB and other metabolites. Their use would lower the production cost of PHB and the low-cost production will reduce the sailing price of PHB-based products. This would promote the large-scale commercialization and popularization of PHB as an ecofriendly bioplastic/biopolymer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1593 KiB  
Article
Magnetic Field Treatments Improves Sunflower Yield by Inducing Physiological and Biochemical Modulations in Seeds
by Irfan Afzal, Saman Saleem, Milan Skalicky, Talha Javed, Muhammad Amir Bakhtavar, Zia ul Haq, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Sohail Saddiq, Aneela Afzal, Noshin Shafqat, Eldessoky S. Dessoky, Aayushi Gupta, Joanna Korczyk-Szabo, Marian Brestic and Ayman E. L. Sabagh
Molecules 2021, 26(7), 2022; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26072022 - 01 Apr 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3451
Abstract
Magnetic seed enhancement has been practicing as a promising tool to improve germination and seedling growth of low vigor seeds stored under suboptimal conditions, but there is still ambiguity regarding the prospects for magnetism in oilseeds. Present study elucidates the potential of magnetic [...] Read more.
Magnetic seed enhancement has been practicing as a promising tool to improve germination and seedling growth of low vigor seeds stored under suboptimal conditions, but there is still ambiguity regarding the prospects for magnetism in oilseeds. Present study elucidates the potential of magnetic seed stimulation to improve sunflower germination, growth and yield. Germination and emergence tests were performed to optimize the strength of the magnetic field to sunflower seed enhancement. The seeds were directly exposed to magnetic field strengths of 50, 100 and 150 millitesla (mT) for 5, 10 and 15 min (min) and then standard germination tests were performed. Secondly, the emergence potential of untreated seeds was compared with seed exposed to hydropriming, priming with 3% moringa leaf extract (MLE), priming with magnetically treated water (MTW) for 10 min and priming with 3% MLE solution prepared in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE). Germination, emergence, seedling growth and seed biochemical properties were used to select the best treatment for field evaluation. The results of the study revealed that magnetic seed treatment with 100 mT for 10 min and seed priming with 3% MLE solution in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE) significantly improved emergence, crop growth rate and sunflower yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2945 KiB  
Article
Chemical Stability of the Fertilizer Chelates Fe-EDDHA and Fe-EDDHSA over Time
by Ewelina Klem-Marciniak, Marta Huculak-Mączka, Kinga Marecka, Krystyna Hoffmann and Józef Hoffmann
Molecules 2021, 26(7), 1933; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26071933 - 30 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4522
Abstract
In application conditions, the influence of environmental parameters on used fertilizer chelates and their distribution over time is important. For this purpose, the changes in the content of micronutrient ions and Fe-EDDHA and Fe-EDDHSA chelates in an aqueous medium at different pH values [...] Read more.
In application conditions, the influence of environmental parameters on used fertilizer chelates and their distribution over time is important. For this purpose, the changes in the content of micronutrient ions and Fe-EDDHA and Fe-EDDHSA chelates in an aqueous medium at different pH values were studied. In the assumed time, changes in the ions content were analyzed using the voltammetry method at pH 3, 5 and 7. The content of isomers and chelate forms was analyzed by ion pair chromatography at pH 3, 5 and 7. These studies allowed us to determine the effect of pH on the stability of iron chelates over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 3511 KiB  
Article
Production of Plant Beneficial and Antioxidants Metabolites by Klebsiellavariicola under Salinity Stress
by Supriya P. Kusale, Yasmin C. Attar, R. Z. Sayyed, Roslinda A. Malek, Noshin Ilyas, Ni Luh Suriani, Naeem Khan and Hesham A. El Enshasy
Molecules 2021, 26(7), 1894; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26071894 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 64 | Viewed by 3687
Abstract
Bacteria that surround plant roots and exert beneficial effects on plant growth are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In addition to the plant growth-promotion, PGPR also imparts resistance against salinity and oxidative stress and needs to be studied. Such PGPR can function [...] Read more.
Bacteria that surround plant roots and exert beneficial effects on plant growth are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In addition to the plant growth-promotion, PGPR also imparts resistance against salinity and oxidative stress and needs to be studied. Such PGPR can function as dynamic bioinoculants under salinity conditions. The present study reports the isolation of phytase positive multifarious Klebsiella variicola SURYA6 isolated from wheat rhizosphere in Kolhapur, India. The isolate produced various plant growth-promoting (PGP), salinity ameliorating, and antioxidant traits. It produced organic acid, yielded a higher phosphorous solubilization index (9.3), maximum phytase activity (376.67 ± 2.77 U/mL), and copious amounts of siderophore (79.0%). The isolate also produced salt ameliorating traits such as indole acetic acid (78.45 ± 1.9 µg/mL), 1 aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (0.991 M/mg/h), and exopolysaccharides (32.2 ± 1.2 g/L). In addition to these, the isolate also produced higher activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (13.86 IU/mg protein), catalase (0.053 IU/mg protein), and glutathione oxidase (22.12 µg/mg protein) at various salt levels. The isolate exhibited optimum growth and maximum secretion of these metabolites during the log-phase growth. It exhibited sensitivity to a wide range of antibiotics and did not produce hemolysis on blood agar, indicative of its non-pathogenic nature. The potential of K. variicola to produce copious amounts of various PGP, salt ameliorating, and antioxidant metabolites make it a potential bioinoculant for salinity stress management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
Selenium Alleviates the Adverse Effect of Drought in Oilseed Crops Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) and Canola (Brassica napus L.)
by Zahoor Ahmad, Shazia Anjum, Milan Skalicky, Ejaz Ahmad Waraich, Rana Muhammad Sabir Tariq, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Akbar Hossain, Mohamed M. Hassan, Marian Brestic, Mohammad Sohidul Islam, Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman, Allah Wasaya, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal and Ayman EL Sabagh
Molecules 2021, 26(6), 1699; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26061699 - 18 Mar 2021
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 3484
Abstract
Drought poses a serious threat to oilseed crops by lowering yield and crop failures under prolonged spells. A multi-year field investigation was conducted to enhance the drought tolerance in four genotypes of Camelina and canola by selenium (Se) application. The principal aim of [...] Read more.
Drought poses a serious threat to oilseed crops by lowering yield and crop failures under prolonged spells. A multi-year field investigation was conducted to enhance the drought tolerance in four genotypes of Camelina and canola by selenium (Se) application. The principal aim of the research was to optimize the crop yield by eliciting the physio-biochemical attributes by alleviating the adverse effects of drought stress. Both crops were cultivated under control (normal irrigation) and drought stress (skipping irrigation at stages i.e., vegetative and reproductive) conditions. Four different treatments of Se viz., seed priming with Se (75 μM), foliar application of Se (7.06 μM), foliar application of Se + Seed priming with Se (7.06 μM and 75 μM, respectively) and control (without Se), were implemented at the vegetative and reproductive stages of both crops. Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), an inorganic compound was used as Se sources for both seed priming and foliar application. Data regarding physiochemical, antioxidants, and yield components were recorded as response variables at crop maturity. Results indicated that WP, OP, TP, proline, TSS, TFAA, TPr, TS, total chlorophyll contents, osmoprotectant (GB, anthocyanin, TPC, and flavonoids), antioxidants (APX, SOD, POD, and CAT), and yield components (number of branches per plant, thousand seed weight, seed, and biological yields were significantly improved by foliar Se + priming Se in both crops under drought stress. Moreover, this treatment was also helpful in boosting yield attributes under irrigated (non-stress) conditions. Camelina genotypes responded better to Se application as seed priming and foliar spray than canola for both years. It has concluded that Se application (either foliar or priming) can potentially alleviate adverse effects of drought stress in camelina and canola by eliciting various physio-biochemicals attributes under drought stress. Furthermore, Se application was also helpful for crop health under irrigated condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 10737 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Drying and Torrefaction Processes of Miscanthus for Use as a Pelletized Solid Biofuel and Biocarbon-Carrier for Fertilizers
by Szymon Szufa, Piotr Piersa, Łukasz Adrian, Justyna Czerwińska, Artur Lewandowski, Wiktoria Lewandowska, Jan Sielski, Maria Dzikuć, Marek Wróbel, Marcin Jewiarz and Adrian Knapczyk
Molecules 2021, 26(4), 1014; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26041014 - 14 Feb 2021
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2970
Abstract
Miscanthus is resistant to dry, frosty winters in Poland and most European Union countries. Miscanthus gives higher yields compared to native species. Farmers can produce Miscanthus pellets after drying it for their own heating purposes. From the third year, the most efficient plant [...] Read more.
Miscanthus is resistant to dry, frosty winters in Poland and most European Union countries. Miscanthus gives higher yields compared to native species. Farmers can produce Miscanthus pellets after drying it for their own heating purposes. From the third year, the most efficient plant development begins, resulting in a yield of 25–30 tons of dry matter from an area of 1 hectare. Laboratory scale tests were carried out on the processes of drying, compacting, and torrefaction of this biomass type. The analysis of the drying process was conducted at three temperature levels of the drying agent (60, 100, and 140 °C). Compaction on a hydraulic press was carried out in the pressure range characteristic of a pressure agglomeration (130.8–457.8 MPa) at different moisture contents of the raw material (0.5% and 10%). The main interest in this part was to assess the influence of drying temperature, moisture content, and compaction pressure on the specific densities (DE) and the mechanical durability of the pellets (DU). In the next step, laboratory analyses of the torrefaction process were carried out, initially using the Thermogravimetric Analysis TGA and Differential Scaning Calorimeter DSC techniques (to assess activation energy (EA)), followed by a flow reactor operating at five temperature levels (225, 250, 275, 300, and 525 °C). A SEM analysis of Miscanthus after torrefaction processes at three different temperatures was performed. Both the parameters of biochar (proximate and ultimate analysis) and the quality of the torgas (volatile organic content (VOC)) were analyzed. The results show that both drying temperature and moisture level will affect the quality of the pellets. Analysis of the torrefaction process shows clearly that the optimum process temperature would be around 300–340 °C from a mass loss ratio and economical perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3079 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Vanillin Following Bioconversion of Rice Straw and Its Optimization by Response Surface Methodology
by Irnia Nurika, Sri Suhartini, Nurul Azizah and Guy C. Barker
Molecules 2020, 25(24), 6031; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules25246031 - 19 Dec 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4505
Abstract
Value-added chemicals, including phenolic compounds, can be generated through lignocellulosic biomass conversion via either biological or chemical pretreatment. Currently vanillin is one of the most valuable of these products that has been shown to be extractable on an industrial scale. This study demonstrates [...] Read more.
Value-added chemicals, including phenolic compounds, can be generated through lignocellulosic biomass conversion via either biological or chemical pretreatment. Currently vanillin is one of the most valuable of these products that has been shown to be extractable on an industrial scale. This study demonstrates the potential of using rice straw inoculated with Serpula lacrymans, which produced a mixture of high value bio-based compounds including vanillin. Key extraction conditions were identified to be the volume of solvent used and extraction time, which were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The vanillin compounds extracted from rice straw solid state fermentation (SSF) was confirmed through LC-ESI MS/MS in selective ion mode. The optimum concentration and yield differed depending on the solvent, which was predicted using 60 mL ethyl acetate for 160 min were 0.408% and 3.957 μg g−1 respectively. In comparison, when ethanol was used, the highest concentration and yields of vanillin were 0.165% and 2.596 μg g−1. These were achieved using 40 mL of solvent, and extraction time increased to 248 min. The results confirm that fungal conversion of rice straw to vanillin could consequently offer a cost-effect alternative to other modes of production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 967 KiB  
Article
Nutrients Supplementation through Organic Manures Influence the Growth of Weeds and Maize Productivity
by Dibakar Ghosh, Koushik Brahmachari, Milan Skalicky, Akbar Hossain, Sukamal Sarkar, Nirmal Kumar Dinda, Anupam Das, Biswajit Pramanick, Debojyoti Moulick, Marian Brestic, Muhammad Ali Raza, Celaleddin Barutcular, Shah Fahad, Hirofumi Saneoka and Ayman EL Sabagh
Molecules 2020, 25(21), 4924; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules25214924 - 24 Oct 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3386
Abstract
Declining rate of productivity and environmental sustainability is forcing growers to use organic manures as a source of nutrient supplement in maize farming. However, weed is a major constraint to maize production. A field study was carried out over two seasons to evaluate [...] Read more.
Declining rate of productivity and environmental sustainability is forcing growers to use organic manures as a source of nutrient supplement in maize farming. However, weed is a major constraint to maize production. A field study was carried out over two seasons to evaluate various integrated nutrient and weed management practices in hybrid maize. The treatment combinations comprised of supplementation of inorganic fertilizer (25% nitrogen) through bulky (Farmyard manure and vermicompost) and concentrated (Brassicaceous seed meal (BSM) and neem cake (NC)) organic manures and different mode of weed management practices like chemical (atrazine 1000 g ha−1) and integrated approach (atrazine 1000 g ha−1 followed by mechanical weeding). Repeated supplementation of nitrogen through concentrated organic manures reduced the density and biomass accumulation of most dominant weed species, Anagalis arvensis by releasing allelochemicals into the soil. But organic manures had no significant impact on restricting the growth of bold seeded weeds like Vicia hirsuta and weed propagated through tubers i.e., Cyperus rotundus in maize. By restricting the weed growth and nutrient removal by most dominating weeds, application of BSM enhanced the growth and yield of maize crop. Repeated addition of organic manures (BSM) enhanced the maize grain yield by 19% over sole chemical fertilizer in the second year of study. Application of atrazine as pre-emergence (PRE) herbicide significantly reduced the density of A. arvensis, whereas integration of mechanical weeding following herbicide controlled those weeds which were not usually controlled with the application of atrazine. As a result, atrazine at PRE followed by mechanical weeding produced the highest maize grain yield 6.81 and 7.10 t/ha in the first year and second year of study, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 1559 KiB  
Review
Current Trends in Acetins Production: Green versus Non-Green Synthesis
by Bakht Zada, Moonhyuk Kwon and Seon-Won Kim
Molecules 2022, 27(7), 2255; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27072255 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2078
Abstract
To utilize excess glycerol produced from the biodiesel industry, researchers are developing innovative methods of transforming glycerol into value-added chemicals. One strategy adopted is the conversion of glycerol into acetins, which are esters of glycerol that have wide applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food [...] Read more.
To utilize excess glycerol produced from the biodiesel industry, researchers are developing innovative methods of transforming glycerol into value-added chemicals. One strategy adopted is the conversion of glycerol into acetins, which are esters of glycerol that have wide applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and fuel additives, and plasticizers and serve as precursors for other chemical compounds. Acetins are synthesized either by traditional chemical methods or by biological processes. Although the chemical methods are efficient, productive, and commercialized, they are “non-green”, meaning that they are unsafe for the environment and consumers. On the other hand, the biological process is “green” in the sense that it protects both the environment and consumers. It is, however, less productive and requires further effort to achieve commercialization. Thus, both methodologies have benefits and drawbacks, and this study aims to present and discuss these. In addition, we briefly discuss general strategies for optimizing biological processes that could apply to acetins production on an industrial scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

37 pages, 902 KiB  
Review
Phenolics from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Characterisation and Potential as Biostimulants and Bioprotectants
by Musa Kisiriko, Maria Anastasiadi, Leon Alexander Terry, Abdelaziz Yasri, Michael Henry Beale and Jane Louise Ward
Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6343; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26216343 - 20 Oct 2021
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4969
Abstract
Biostimulants and bioprotectants are derived from natural sources and can enhance crop growth and protect crops from pests and pathogens, respectively. They have attracted much attention in the past few decades and contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural system. Despite not [...] Read more.
Biostimulants and bioprotectants are derived from natural sources and can enhance crop growth and protect crops from pests and pathogens, respectively. They have attracted much attention in the past few decades and contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural system. Despite not having been explored extensively, plant extracts and their component secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds have been shown to have biostimulant effects on plants, including enhancement of growth attributes and yield, as well as bioprotectant effects, including antimicrobial, insecticidal, herbicidal and nematicidal effects. Medicinal and aromatic plants are widely distributed all over the world and are abundant sources of phenolic compounds. This paper reviews the characterisation of phenolic compounds and extracts from medicinal and aromatic plants, including a brief overview of their extraction, phytochemical screening and methods of analysis. The second part of the review highlights the potential for use of phenolic compounds and extracts as biostimulants and bioprotectants in agriculture as well as some of the challenges related to their use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Chemicals: Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-15
Back to TopTop