Manuel Rendueles

Bio: Manuel Rendueles is an academic researcher from University of Oviedo. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ion exchange & Pseudomonas taetrolens. The author has an hindex of 26, co-authored 114 publications receiving 1843 citations.

Microbial production of specialty organic acids from renewable and waste materials

Abstract: Microbial production of organic acids has become a fast-moving field due to the increasing role of these compounds as platform chemicals. In recent years, the portfolio of specialty fermentation-derived carboxylic acids has increased considerably, including the production of glyceric, glucaric, succinic, butyric, xylonic, fumaric, malic, itaconic, lactobionic, propionic and adipic acid through innovative fermentation strategies. This review summarizes recent trends in the use of novel microbial platforms as well as renewable and waste materials for efficient and cost-effective bio-based production of emerging high-value organic acids. Advances in the development of robust and efficient microbial bioprocesses for producing carboxylic acids from low-cost feedstocks are also discussed. The industrial market scenario is also reviewed, including the latest information on the stage of development for producing these emerging bio-products via large-scale fermentation.

Novel biosorbents from almond shells: Characterization and adsorption properties modeling for Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions

Abstract: This study is focused on the adsorption of Cu(II) ions on chemically modified almond shell-based adsorbents, namely bleached almond shell (BAS), lyophilized-bleached almond shell (L-BAS), and TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-piperidin-1-yl)oxyl) oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCN1 and TOCN2). Such materials were characterized by FTIR-ATR, N 2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, TEM, and TGA/DTG. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics of Cu(II) onto the prepared biosorbents and the effect of temperature and pH on the removal efficiency were thoroughly analyzed. The maximum adsorption capacity of BAS, L-BAS, TOCN1 and TOCN2 at 30 °C and pH 6 was found to be 18.71, 28.27, 23.80, and 21.57 mg g −1 , respectively. Therefore, these materials can be used as effective adsorbents for Cu(II)-containing wastewaters. The results of all the biosorbents, except for the BAS one, were fitted to the pseudo-first-order model with a good degree of concordance. It was also proved that the adsorption process onto L-BAS, TOCN1, and TOCN2 was exothermic and spontaneous.

Pharmaceuticals of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Systems: Chemistry, Occurrence, Effects, and Removal Methods.

Abstract: In the last few decades, pharmaceuticals, credited with saving millions of lives, have emerged as a new class of environmental contaminant. These compounds can have both chronic and acute harmful effects on natural flora and fauna. The presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in ground waters, surface waters (lakes, rivers, and streams), sea water, wastewater treatment plants (influents and effluents), soils, and sludges has been well doccumented. A range of methods including oxidation, photolysis, UV-degradation, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and adsorption has been used for their remediation from aqueous systems. Many methods have been commercially limited by toxic sludge generation, incomplete removal, high capital and operating costs, and the need for skilled operating and maintenance personnel. Adsorption technologies are a low-cost alternative, easily used in developing countries where there is a dearth of advanced technologies, skilled personnel, and available capital, and adsorption appears to be the most broadly feasible pharmaceutical removal method. Adsorption remediation methods are easily integrated with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Herein, we have reviewed the literature (1990-2018) illustrating the rising environmental pharmaceutical contamination concerns as well as remediation efforts emphasizing adsorption.

A standardised static in vitro digestion method suitable for food – an international consensus

Abstract: Simulated gastro-intestinal digestion is widely employed in many fields of food and nutritional sciences, as conducting human trials are often costly, resource intensive, and ethically disputable. As a consequence, in vitro alternatives that determine endpoints such as the bioaccessibility of nutrients and non-nutrients or the digestibility of macronutrients (e.g. lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) are used for screening and building new hypotheses. Various digestion models have been proposed, often impeding the possibility to compare results across research teams. For example, a large variety of enzymes from different sources such as of porcine, rabbit or human origin have been used, differing in their activity and characterization. Differences in pH, mineral type, ionic strength and digestion time, which alter enzyme activity and other phenomena, may also considerably alter results. Other parameters such as the presence of phospholipids, individual enzymes such as gastric lipase and digestive emulsifiers vs. their mixtures (e.g. pancreatin and bile salts), and the ratio of food bolus to digestive fluids, have also been discussed at length. In the present consensus paper, within the COST Infogest network, we propose a general standardised and practical static digestion method based on physiologically relevant conditions that can be applied for various endpoints, which may be amended to accommodate further specific requirements. A frameset of parameters including the oral, gastric and small intestinal digestion are outlined and their relevance discussed in relation to available in vivo data and enzymes. This consensus paper will give a detailed protocol and a line-by-line, guidance, recommendations and justifications but also limitation of the proposed model. This harmonised static, in vitro digestion method for food should aid the production of more comparable data in the future.