Overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels due to the population explosion urges us to focus on renewable fuels such as bioethanol. It is a well-known fact that ethanol is useful as a blending product with common fuels such as petrol and diesel. This reduces the cost besides bringing down environmental pollution. Apart from chemical methods, bioethanol is generated from photosynthetic plants including algae, plant-based products, microbial organisms and their waste. Specifically, the production of ethanol from microalgal sources has been an attractive method in recent days. The reason behind using microalgal species is their simple structure with photosynthetic ability. In contrast, certain algal species often go disused in some regions. Hence, the production of ethanol from algal sources is one of the best waste management practices. Moreover, it is easy to improve the biomass in microalgal species by altering the physicochemical conditions such as light, pH, temperature, external supply of nutrients, vitamins, nano-sized particles, gene alterations etc., which will enhance ethanol production. In this review, the methods used for ethanol production are discussed. In addition, the factors involved in algal growth and ethanol production are emphasized. Overall, this review focuses on ethanol production from various algal species. This information will be useful for industrial-level production of ethanol and future renewable energy research.
The continuously increasing energy requirement on one hand and the incessant depletion of non-renewable fossil fuels on the other urge us to focus on alternative renewable energy sources such as biofuels. Biofuels including biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, biohydrogen, etc., are generated from different biological sources, and their waste which stands as the best alternative in the present scenario. Specifically, the utilization of biological wastes as raw materials for the production of biofuels is considered as best waste management practice. To date, most of the biodiesel production research has been carried out with plant, algal, and microbial samples, or their waste. It is a well-known fact that diesel can also be produced from specific oily fish and their waste using different methods. In addition, fish waste constitutes a major quantity compared to other food waste which is a serious concern. Furthermore, the disposal of fish waste shows an impact on both the environment and the economy. Hence, the development of protocols for the efficient production of biodiesel from fish waste is the ultimate goal. However, insufficient knowledge and less effort in the conversion of fish waste to biodiesel impede the achievement of this goal. Therefore, this review intends to summarize the mechanism of biodiesel production from fish waste. Also, various physico-chemical factors involved in biodiesel production from fish waste were discussed. In addition, research on biodiesel generation from various fish wastes or waste fish oil was also emphasized in detail, which will be helpful for commercial practice. Overall, this information will be useful for improvement in biodiesel production from fish waste.
Background: Host-parasite interaction studies represent the dependency of the parasites on the host through various models. Gill infesting copepods, monogeneans and isopods served as excellent models to study the details of host-parasite interaction. In the present investigation,Wallago attu(Bloch & Schneider, 1801) was extensively studied for histopathological damage caused by ectoparasites like monogeneans (Thaparocleidus indicus, Thaparocleidus wallagoniusandMizelleus indicus), copepod (Ergasilus malnadensis) and an isopod (Alitropus typus) during August 2017 to February 2018. Both the control (least infested) and severely infested gills were examined through light microscope to approximate the intensity of damage caused by above ectoparasites.Results: Pathological effects of ectoparasites displayed a fusion of secondary lamella, hyperplasia of the gill filaments and the epithelial cells, propagation of bronchial tips, thinning of the central axis, deshaping, shortening and fusion of secondary gill lamellae epithelium, severe degenerative and necrotic changes in gill filaments and secondary lamellae, curling of secondary lamellae and mucous cells proliferation.Conclusions: Ectoparasites cause severe damage to gills ofW. attu, thereby diminishing the gill breathing capacity of the fish. Timely pathological studies can reveal the extent of damage caused by the parasites and thus various diagnostic programs and best management practices can be implemented in aquaculture for the better yield.