Abstract Biotechnology can be used to convert waste into valuable products. In this context, there is bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural biopolymer that can be transformed into several useful materials, but its production is limited due to the high cost of the culture media used for its industrialization. In this work, BC was produced from the bacteria Komagataeibacter rhaeticus, using coffee grounds, sugarcane molasses and ethanol. The experiments were carried out under static conditions. The products were collected every 48 h, with a total period of 240 h. The maximum BC production (11.08 g.L-1) was obtained in a culture medium supplemented with coffee powder, hydrolyzed cane molasses and the addition of 1% (v/v) ethanol. The results show that the use of different carbon sources of the evaluated by-products are viable alternatives in reducing costs in BC production.

RESUMO: A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo otimizar o processo de desidratação osmótica (DO) do gengibre, com solução hipertônica de sacarose, pelo método de superfície de resposta. Foi utilizado um planejamento fatorial 23 completo, totalizando 17 ensaios, tendo como variáveis independentes: temperatura, concentração da solução osmótica e tempo de imersão e variáveis dependentes, como,: perda de umidade (PU), ganho de sólidos (GS) e índice de eficiência de desidratação osmótica (IED). Para otimizar foi considerado o melhor ensaio, o que obteve maior IED, ou seja, maior PU e menor GS. As melhores condições para a desidratação osmótica de gengibre foram obtidos a 40 °C, 50 °Brix e 90 minutos de imersão (Ensaio 16) com IED de 1.61 vindo em seguida o Ensaio 1 (34 ºC, 44 ºBrix e 120 minutos de imersão) com IED de 1.45. Estes ensaios foram avaliados quanto à coliformes tolerantes térmicas, Bacillus cereus e Salmonella spp., apresentando valores abaixo dos limites aceitáveis, indicando boas condições higiênicas sanitárias do produto.

ABSTRACT: The present research aimed to optimize the process of osmotic dehydration (OD) of ginger with hypertonic sucrose solution employing response surface methodology. A 23 experimental planning was carried out and 17 experimental assays were performed based on three independent variables (temperature, concentration of the osmotic solution and immersion time) and three dependent variables (moisture loss (ML), solids gain (SG) and dehydration efficiency index (DEI)). The selected assay conditions exhibited the preferred DEI value (the highest ML and lower SG), which were considered in the optimization. Assay 16 demonstrated to be the most favorable conditions for the osmotic dehydration of ginger (DEI =1.61) at 40 40 °C, 50 °Brix and 90 minutes of immersion time. Assay 1 performed at 34 °C, 44 °Brix and 120 minutes of immersion time also displayed desirable response (DEI =1.45). Thus, these two assays were evaluated for the presence of thermal-tolerant coliforms: Bacillus cereus and Salmonella sp.. The analyses presented values below the acceptable limits, which assured high quality hygienic and sanitary conditions of the product.

Background A biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultivated in a low-cost medium formulated with 2.5% vegetable oil refinery residue and 2.5% corn steep liquor and distilled water was employed to stabilize silver nanoparticles in the liquid phase. The particles were initially synthesized using NaBH4 as reducing agent in biosurfactant reverse micelles and were extracted from the micellar solution to disperse in heptane. Results A silver particle size in the range of 1.13 nm was observed. The UV-vis absorption spectra proposed that silver nanoparticles could be formed in the reverse micelles and relatively stabilized for at least 3 months without passivator addition. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) shows that the silver nanoparticles are of spherical form and relatively uniform. Conclusions This process provided a simpler route for nanoparticle synthesis compared to existing systems using whole organisms or partially purified biological extracts, showing that the low-cost biosurfactant can be used for nanoparticle synthesis as a non-toxic and biodegradable stabilizing agent.

Background: Biotechnological processes are costly, especially for the production of biosurfactants. The successful production of a biosurfactant is dependent on the development of processes using low cost raw materials. Considering the importance of the characteristics of a biosurfactant to facilitate its industrial application, the properties of the biosurfactant produced by Candida lipolytica through previously optimized medium have been established. Results: The yeast was grown for 72 h to determine the kinetics of growth and production. The surface tension of the cell-free broth was reduced from 55 to 25 mN/m. The yield of biosurfactant was 8.0 g/l with a CMC of 0.03%. The biosurfactant was characterized as an anionic lipopeptide composed of 50% protein, 20% lipids, and 8% of carbohydrates. Conclusions: The isolated biosurfactant showed no toxicity against different vegetable seeds: Brassica oleracea, Solanum gilo and Lactuca sativa L. and the micro-crustacean Artemia salina. The properties of the biosurfactant produced suggest its potential application in industries that require the use of effective compounds at low cost.

Background: The aim of the present study was to propose a low-cost method for the production of a biosurfactant by the yeast Candida sphaerica and assess its toxicity and phytotoxicity. The medium was formulated with distilled water supplemented with residue from a soy oil refinery (5%) and corn steep liquor (2.5%) as substrates. These two products were the sources of carbon and nitrogen as well as mineral elements to encourage the growth of the microorganism and production of a biosurfactant. Results: The isolated biosurfactant yield was 6.364 g/l. The biosurfactant exhibited an excellent ability to reduce surface tension (26 mN/m) and demonstrated no toxicity against seeds of Brassica oleracea, Chicoria intybus and Solanum gilo or the micro crustacean Artemia salina employed as a bioindicator. The biosurfactant exhibited no antimicrobial activity against the fungi and bacteria tested. Conclusions: The promising results obtained in this study indicate the feasibility of producing biosurfactants from powerful non-toxic organic residues and their application in the bioremediation of contaminated soil and water.

Evaluation of both tenso-active and emulsifying activities indicated that a biosurfactant was produced by the newly isolated and promising strain Candida glabrata isolated from mangrove sediments. The extracellular water-soluble emulsifying agent was isolated and identified as a heteropolymer. The maximum of bioemulsifier production was observed when the strain was grown on soluble and insoluble substrates cotton seed oil plus glucose, reaching values of 10.0 g/l after 144 hrs at 200 rpm. The cell-free culture broth containing the examined agent lowered the surface tension of the medium to 31 mN/m. Stable and compact emulsions with emulsifying activity of 75% of cotton seed oil were detected. The emulsification capacity remained practically unaltered within a wide pH (2-12), temperature (4-80ºC) ranges and under NaCl concentrations up to 10%.

Uma coluna de discos perfurados rotativos foi utilizada na extração da enzima ascorbato oxidorredutase (E.C.1.10.3.3), obtida do extrato bruto de Curcubita maxima, através da utilização do sistema bifásico aquoso Polietilenoglicol-sais de fosfato. Os efeitos da velocidade da fase dispersa nos coeficientes de transferência de massa e na eficiência de separação para valores de 1, 2 e 3 mL/min foram estudados. Observou-se um aumento da transferência de massa com a velocidade da fase dispersa, enquanto que a eficiência de separação demonstrou uma ligeira redução com o aumento deste parâmetro. Os resultados experimentais obtidos durante a extração contínua demonstraram que a atividade da ascorbato oxidorredutase se concentrou preferencialmente na fase rica em sal para todas as condições estudadas. A maior recuperação da atividade enzimática foi de 236%, com um fator de purificação de 34 para o valor de 1 mL/min para a fase dispersa.

A continuous perforated rotating disc contactor was used to extract the enzyme ascorbic oxidoreductase (E.C.1.10.3.3) from crude extract of Curcubita maxima with an aqueous two-phase system of poly (ethylene glycol) and phosphate salts. The effect of dispersed phase velocity on either protein mass transfer coefficients or separation efficiency at 1, 2 and 3 mL/min was studied. An increase of the mass transfer coefficients was observed with the dispersed phase velocity, while the separation efficiency showed a small decrease with the increase of this parameter. The experimental results obtained during continuous extraction showed that the ascorbic oxidoreductase activity was partitioned preferentially into the salt-rich phase in all conditions studied. The best recovery of enzyme activity was 236%, with a purification factor of 34 in flow rates of 1 mL/min for dispersed phase.

A partição de duas proteínas, albumina de soro bovino (BSA) e tripsina foi estudada no sistema bifásico aquoso Polietileno glicol(PEG) - Goma do cajueiro. O diagrama de fases foi estabelecido para a Goma do Cajueiro e para PEG de peso molecular 1500 em duas diferentes temperaturas. A influência de vários parâmetros na partição destas proteínas, incluindo concentração dos polímeros, pH, adição de sal e temperatura foi investigada. Os resultados desta pesquisa demonstraram a importância das características da proteína na partição em sistemas bifásicos aquosos.

The partitioning of two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and trypsin was studied in an aqueous poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)- Cashew-nut tree gum system. The phase diagram was provided for Cashew-nut tree gum and PEG molecular weight of 1500 at two different temperatures. The influence of several parameters including concentrations of polymers, pH, salt addition and temperature on the partitioning of these proteins were investigated.. The results of this research demonstrated the importance of the protein characteristics for partitioning in aqueous biphasic system.

Recentemente, algumas espécies da ordem Mucorales têm sido reportadas como produtoras de proteases. Neste trabalho a produção de proteases extracelulares foi estudada em uma amostra de Mucor circinelloides utilizando D-glicose, em diferentes concentrações (40, 60 e 80 g/L), como substrato. A fermentação foi acompanhada com determinação de biomassa e pH, assim como pela determinação da atividade proteásica. Embora a produção de biomassa tenha alcançado melhores rendimentos na presença de 80 g/L de glicose, a produtividade enzimática aumentou quando a concentração do substrato foi reduzida para 40 g/L. Os fatores de rendimento de produção enzimática por biomassa, assim como o rendimento de glicose consumida em atividade proteásica foram superiores quando o cultivo do microrganismo ocorreu em meio contendo 40 g/L de D-glicose. As variáveis de resposta do bioprocesso sugerem que a linhagem estudada possa ser utilizada como microrganismo agente para a produção de protease.

Recently, some Mucorales species have been reported as protease producers. The production of extracellular proteases by Mucor circinelloides using glucose as substrate was studied. Experiments were carried out with different D-glucose concentrations (40, 60 and 80 g/L). Biomass, pH and protease activity were determined. Although biomass production had reached best yields for the medium containing D-glucose in a concentration of 80 g/L, the enzymatic production was higher when the substrate concentration was reduced to 40 g/L. The yield factor for product on cell growth and the yield factor for product on carbon substrate were higher when the microorganism grew in medium containing 40 g/L glucose. The kinetics parameters suggest that this strain seems to be promising as an alternative microorganism for protease production.