Browsing by Author "Morana, A."
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- Anaerobic digestion process for biogas and biomolecules production: microflora identification and characterizationPublication . Eusebio, Ana; Chaves, S.; Tenreiro, R.; Almeida-Vara, Elsa; Morana, A.; Ionata, E.; La Cara, F.; Marques, Isabel PaulaThe anaerobic process was efficient in organic matter removal. During the process, an interesting compound as quercetin was produced inside of reactor. Phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of phylotypes affiliated with gamma-Proteobacteria, Choroflexi, and Bacteroidetes. Archaea were represented by phylotypes belonging to the genus Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta.
- Bioactive compounds through anaerobic digestion of heterotrophic microalgae residuesPublication . Morana, A.; Squillaci, G.; Santos, Carla A.; La Cara, F.; Marques, Isabel PaulaSeveral important biomolecules are available into anaerobically digested effluents that were obtained from the biodiesel production process using heterotrophically grown microalga Chlorella protothecoides. Defatted microalgae residues and crude glycerol may undergo anaerobic digestion, separately and in admixture, providing methane/hydrogen and a digestate exploitable for agriculture applications. Furthermore, industrial interesting bioactive compounds such as polyphenols provided with antioxidant activity can be obtained. Anaerobic process offers a promising chance and can be advantageously combined with algae lipid-extraction techniques in order to make it more sustainable.
- Fermentation of xylose-rich substrates by the haloarchaeon halorhabdus utahensis towards high value-added bioproducts [Poster]Publication . Alves, Luís; Paixão, Susana M.; Silva, Tiago; Squillaci, G.; Serino, I.; Morana, A.ABSTRACT: Research that focuses on the use of high value-added bioproducts for industrial applications is essential for the implementation of sustainable approaches forecasting a bio-based economy. The effective use of biomass feedstocks, particularly lignocellulosic materials, in large-scale applications will evolve from innovative research aimed at the development and implementation of biorefineries established for specific feedstocks. In this context, an important step is the concept of fractionating biomass into its core constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) for further enhanced valorization. Contrary to the valorization of cellulose fraction, which has been extensively studied, there is a gap in the valorization of the hemicellulose fraction (xylose- rich substrate) towards bioproducts. In this context, the present work aims to explore the ability of the haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis (DSM-12940) to ferment xylose (or xylose-rich substrates) to high added-value bioproducts, such as pigments, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
- Phenolic waste valorization through bioenergy and bioactive compounds production [Resumo]Publication . Morana, A.; La Cara, F.; Marques, Isabel PaulaThe agricultural and industrial processing activities produce large amounts of waste that are only partially valorised at different value-added levels (spread on land, animal feed, composting), whereas the main volumes are managed as waste of environmental worry. These by-products are rich sources of bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity.
- Properties of an alkali-thermo stable xylanase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans A333 and applicability in xylooligosaccharides generationPublication . Marcolongo, L.; La Cara, F.; Morana, A.; Di Salle, A.; Del Monaco, G.; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, Luís; Ionata, E.An extracellular thermo-alkali-stable and cellulase-free xylanase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans A333 was purified to homogeneity by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. Its molecular mass was 44 kDa as estimated in native and denaturing conditions by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE analysis, respectively. The xylanase (GtXyn) exhibited maximum activity at 70 °C and pH 7.5. It was stable over broad ranges of temperature and pH retaining 88 % of activity at 60 °C and up to 97 % in the pH range 7.5–10.0 after 24 h. Moreover, the enzyme was active up to 3.0 M sodium chloride concentration, exhibiting at that value 70 % residual activity after 1 h. The presence of other metal ions did not affect the activity with the sole exceptions of K+ that showed a stimulating effect, and Fe2+, Co2+ and Hg2+, which inhibited the enzyme. The xylanase was activated by non-ionic surfactants and was stable in organic solvents remaining fully active over 24 h of incubation in 40 % ethanol at 25 °C. Furthermore, the enzyme was resistant to most of the neutral and alkaline proteases tested. The enzyme was active only on xylan, showing no marked preference towards xylans from different origins. The hydrolysis of beechwood xylan and agriculture-based biomass materials yielded xylooligosaccharides with a polymerization degree ranging from 2 to 6 units and xylobiose and xylotriose as main products. These properties indicate G. thermodenitrificans A333 xylanase as a promising candidate for several biotechnological applications, such as xylooligosaccharides preparation.
- Valorization of chestnut manufacture process residues [Poster]Publication . Morana, A.; Laratta, B.; Vella, F. M.; Santos, Carla A.; Del Monaco, G.; La Cara, F.; Marques, Isabel Paula
- Valorization of chestnut shells for hydrogen production by Clostridium butyricum fermentationPublication . Moura, Patrícia; Morana, A.; Paixão, Susana M.; Alves, Luís; Maurelli, L.; Ionata, E.; La Cara, F.Chestnut shell s (CS) is an agronomic waste generated from the peeling process of the chestnut fruit. It is well-known that the extract of CS contains high amounts of tannins, which are polyphenolic antioxidants1, but this agronomic residue also contains about 36% sugars in form of polysaccharides, and no utilization of chestnut shells as potential source of fermentable sugars has been considered so far. As consequence, this waste represents an interesting exploitable source for monosaccharides production, and in this study we evaluated the potential of biohydrogen production from CS hydrolyzate.