Soil Chemical Analysis

Methods of Analysis of Soils, Plants, Waters and Fertilisers

Phycoremediation coupled production of algal biomass, harvesting and anaerobic digestion: Possibilities and challenges

Background The particular characteristics of growth and development of mushrooms in nature result in the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites, several of them with biological activities. The genus Pleurotus is a cosmopolitan group of mushrooms with high nutritional value and therapeutic properties, besides a wide array of biotechnological and environmental applications. Scope and approach The present report aims to provide a critical review on aspects related to chemical compounds isolated from the genus Pleurotus with possible biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses. Investigations on the genus have immensely accelerated during the last ten years, so that only reports published after 2005 have been considered. Key findings and conclusions The most important Pleurotus species cultivated in large scale are Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus pulmonarius. However, more than 200 species have already been investigated to various degrees. Both basidiomata and mycelia of Pleurotus are a great renewable and easily accessible source of functional foods/nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and immunomodulatory effects. A series of compounds have already been precisely defined including several polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenes and sterols. However, intensification of structure determination is highly desirable and demands considerable efforts. Further studies including clinical trials need to be carried out to ascertain the safety of these compounds as adequate alternatives to conventional drugs. Not less important is to extend the search for novel bioactives to less explored Pleurotus species.

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Biotechnological, nutritional and therapeutic uses of Pleurotus spp. (Oyster mushroom) related with its chemical composition: A review on the past decade findings

Bioconversion of algae to methane and subsequent utilization of digestate for algae cultivation: a closed loop bioenergy generation process.

Cultivation of Pleurotus spp. on a combination of anaerobically digested plant material and various agro-residues

In the quest for a simple technology to realize the goal of ‘sustainable energy for all’, the conversion of non-lignified ‘soft’ non-woody biomass to biogas in modern anaerobic digesters is an important component. Firstly, agro-residues, agro-industrial wastes, terrestrial/aquatic weeds form a major source of sustainably raised bio-resources. Anaerobically converting them to biogas provides a sustainable energy source to a large number of users and simultaneously facilitates nutrient recycling (nutrient-rich compost) permitting nutrient-starved agricultural systems in India to become more sustainable. When processed through biogas plants, over 95% of all plant nutrients within can be recycled making India’s fragile agricultural soils more sustainable while also producing an energy source, biogas. While a lot of science and technology experience exists with regards to animal waste fed biogas plants, understanding of the underlying science, technology and sustainability of anaerobic digestion of agro-residues, weeds and leaf litter (‘non-dung’ soft biomass) for biogas/byproducts is poor. This potential has been inadequately tapped. In this paper, an attempt is made to review the microbiology of anaerobic digestion of various biomass residues, the conversion processes that are being developed/in use and finally to examine methods to make them attractive, provide multiple outputs and services than what was possible through animal dung biogas plants. The micro-organisms responsible, physico-chemical environment process and therefore the technology of digestion of biomass residues are not similar or as simple as that found for animal dung or food wastes. Therefore, novel fermentation concepts and modern digesters being developed for biomass residues are required to make this concept feasible and viable. Many more end-products,  other than compost and biogas, as was done in the past, are required if the digesters have to be economically attractive to use and socially justifiable as well as sustainable in the long run. The sustainability issues that have and will shape this field are discussed. In this paper we show that simultaneous anaerobic digestion of biomass residues to biogas and multiple by-products could be an answer to the search for alternatives to achieve sustainable energy for all in this decade.

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Anaerobic digestion for bioenergy from agro-residues and other solid wastes - an overview of science, technology and sustainability.

Biogas production from leaf litter (road sweepings of MSW) is difficult under normal conditions requiring longer retention time due to the complex chemistry involving interlinking structures of lignin and cellulose where in lignin is considered recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions while also limiting access to the cellulose and hemicelluloses. Pre-treatment of biomass with single enzymes system is expensive and uneconomic and an alternative option has been tried. P. florida ``ready-to-fruit'' bags were sprinkled with biogas digester liquid (BDL) from a plug-flow reactor (PFR) type biogas plant fed with leaf litter. Spraying BDL not only increased the mushroom yields from 1.6 to 2.3kg/kg substrate but also gave around similar to 85ml of leachate rich in lignocellulolytic enzymes. Analysis of this enzyme cocktail at various stages of mushroom growth showed that on the 8d a combination of lignocellulolytic enzymes rich in peroxidase (46.67U/gTS) and laccase (204.38U/gTS) and low in cellulase (8.87U/gTS) could be obtained which can be used for various industrial applications such as softening of biomass for higher biogas production and/or bioethanol production. In this study the enzyme cocktail was used for softening paddy straw, a typical lingo-cellulosic biomass, for increasing biogas yields. This type of an enzyme treatment for paddy straw increased biogas yields by 29% and also enhanced sustainability by recycling end product of one process (mushroom cultivation) in softening biomass for higher biogas production and thereby overall system efficiency. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Fungal Enzyme Cocktail Treatment of Biomass for Higher Biogas Production from Leaf Litter

This research attempts to find a new use for lignin and N-rich biogas digester liquid (BDL) as a nutrient supplement during cultivation of pre-packed mushroom bags. Spraying 100 ml BDL/bag/day was found to increase yields of Pleurotus florida by 66–100%. This is a new application for the emerging biomass-fed biogas plants and this makes such plants economic and sustainable. A mass balance analysis of nutrients (C,N&P) indicate that the addition of BDL hastened various mushroom growth stages such as formation of pin-heads, fruiting body and first flush by 2–4 days each. A 20% increase in N supply from BDL has found to increase the mushroom yields by 40%. BDL was found to have 100times lower heavy metal content when compared to digested cow slurry and therefore very low accumulation rates. We report for the first time a new use for BDL which allows valorization hitherto considered not possible.

Biogas digester liquid—a nutrient supplement for mushroom cultivation

Biomass based biogas plants play important role in the sustainable development of rural India. These biogas plants apart from providing biogas (CH4+CO2) that can be used for cooking and other purposes also provide two other byproducts such as Biogas Digester Liquid (BDL) and Biogas Digester Residue (BDR). These byproducts contain proportion of locked nitrogen in the form of ammonia, and other nutrients such as phosphorus that can be further utilized to produce valve added products like mushroom. In this study biogas digester liquid was used as a nutrient supplement in place of water for cultivation of mushroom specie like P. florida. it was observed that the mushroom bags supplemented with biogas digester liquid gave higher yield (P. florida gave 2.4kg/kg substrate) compared to bags sprayed with water (standard bags, 1.5kg/kg substrate). The time required for pin head formation, fruiting body was also reduced by spraying biogas digester liquid. Also the mushroom samples, leachate and solid substrate were analyzed for TKN, TP and TOC. Higher degradation of the substrate was seen in P. florida by spraying BDL than compared to control bags that were sprayed with water. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Sreesha Malayil

Papers

Cultivation of Pleurotus spp. on a combination of anaerobically digested plant material and various agro-residues

Anaerobic digestion for bioenergy from agro-residues and other solid wastes - an overview of science, technology and sustainability.

Fungal Enzyme Cocktail Treatment of Biomass for Higher Biogas Production from Leaf Litter

Biogas digester liquid—a nutrient supplement for mushroom cultivation

Utilization of Biogas Digester Liquid for Higher Mushroom Yeilds