A novel hybrid fermentation process for the production of biological butanol and lipids was established in this study. The ABE containing broth obtained from the two-stage fermentation was used as the substrate for the batch bio-lipids fermentation. A gas stripping unit was integrated with the bio-lipids bioreactor to separate the ABE products. The carrier gas also provided the sterilized air for the metabolism of oleaginous microorganisms. The effect of inoculation rate on the bio-lipids fermentation was evaluated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions using a synthetic medium (10% of inoculation rate with additional carbon source supplementation), about 87.9% of the initial COD in the ABE fermentation broth was degraded, while ∼6.4 g L⁻¹ of the bio-lipids and ∼82.1 g L⁻¹ of the ABE solvent cumulated in the bio-lipids bioreactor and the condensate of the gas stripping unit, respectively. Moreover, the organic acid by-products in the ABE broth could be reused as the carbon source for microbial lipid production using Rhodotorula sp., which was not reported before. The hybrid process was further performed using enzymatic hydrolysate of sweet sorghum bagasse as the substrate. When using the hydrolysate directly without detoxification, ∼62.2 g L⁻¹ of the ABE solvents and ∼2.7 g L⁻¹ of the bio-lipids were produced simultaneously with a COD degradation rate of ∼70.1% from the ABE broth. Correspondingly, 0.06 g of the bio-lipids was co-generated with 0.25 g of the ABE products from a mixture of 1 g reducing sugar in lignocellulosic hydrolysate. The hybrid biorefinery process provides an energy saving way for the manufacture of bio-fuels with environmental benefits.

Sweet sorghum bagasse as an immobilized carrier for ABE fermentation by usingClostridium acetobutylicumABE 1201.

Selenium (Se) yeast, a bioavailable form of selenium, exhibits enhanced bioavailability due to its unique organic matrix and superior metabolic availability compared to the inorganic selenium sources. This study aims to evaluate the effects of Se yeast on the growth performance, slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity, and Se deposition in broiler chickens. A total of 264 1-day-old male AA broilers (38.7 ± 0.1 g) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, with six replicates of 11 chickens per replicate. The broilers were fed a basal diet or a diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg Se yeast. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Although the results showed that Se yeast did not significantly improve the growth performance of broilers, it did significantly decrease the abdominal fat ratio. Additionally, supplementation of Se yeast significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of broilers. The quadratic regression models were used to simulate the relationship between Se content in the feed and Se deposition in broiler tissues. The regression equations were as follows: pectoral muscle, Y = 2.628X − 0.340X² − 0.592 (R² = 0.927); leg muscle, Y = 2.317X − 0.272X² − 0.490 (R² = 0.937); liver, Y = 3.357X − 0.453X² − 0.493 (R² = 0.961); kidney, Y = 4.084X − 0.649X² + 0.792 (R² = 0.932). Based on these findings, the Se deposition in broiler tissues can be predicted by the Se content of the additive, which is of great significance for the precise production of Se-enriched functional chicken products.

Nattokinase, a serine protease that originates from the traditional food natto, has garnered widespread attention due to its pharmacological functions and therapeutic potential. This review aims to delve into the major advancements of nattokinase across various domains, particularly its emerging roles in Alzheimer’s disease prevention and the treatment of retinal diseases, thereby seeking to usher in a newfound hope in the fields of neurology and ophthalmology. However, the production and preservation of nattokinase present a multitude of challenges, including issues of unstable yield and enzyme activity loss. To address these challenges, we explore potential solutions such as the heterologous expression of the nattokinase gene, the optimization of microbial fermentation strategies, and innovative purification methods. Furthermore, we focus on enhancing the stability and protection of nattokinase through encapsulation and immobilization techniques, thus ensuring its sustainability across a wide array of applications. This review provides readers with the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the diverse prospects for nattokinase applications. Future research directions will encompass a deeper exploration of its biological mechanisms, the development of novel nattokinase derivatives, and the extension of its applications into a broader spectrum of disease treatments and health maintenance.

In this paper, L-lactic acid (LLA) was produced using defatted rice bran hydrolysate. Agricultural waste corn stover bagasse (CSB), under the conditions of good mechanical and chemical stabilities, was used as the immobilized carrier. As a result, a maximal concentration of 88 g L⁻¹ of LLA with an average yield of 0.95 g g⁻¹ and productivity of 5.20 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ were achieved in a single-stage immobilized repeated-batch fermentation. In addition, when single-stage immobilized continuous fermentation was carried out, a maximal LLA concentration of 84 g L⁻¹ was obtained with an average yield and productivity of 0.97 g g⁻¹ and 5.73 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. To balance the increases in the productivity, concentration and yield of LLA, two-stage immobilized continuous fermentation was performed. LLA productivities of 6.20 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ in the first stage and 2.18 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ in the second stage were achieved. The whole immobilized fermentation process has potential in L-lactic acid biorefineries and industrialization.