Evaluation of microalgae-based biorefinery alternatives

Microalgae-based biorefineries for the production of renewable biofuels like biodiesel, upgraded bio-oil, biochar, biogas and other high-value chemicals have received great attention in recent decades as potential major sources of energy for the future. Microalgae are a suitable species to produce biodiesel and other high energy density by-products; however, it is questionable whether a net energy gain can be realized or not considering the whole processing chain. In the present study, the energy balances of different algae-based biofuel and bioenergy production technologies are investigated in detail and compared to each other corresponding to a cradle-to-grave overall energetic analysis. The study includes cultivation, harvesting, cell pretreatments (cell disruption, drying, grinding), lipid extraction, transesterification, gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction with bio-oil stabilization and hydroprocessing. The energy consumption and energy gain are estimated for each operational step to determine the net energy ratio (NER, energy output over energy input) for the overall technologies studied. Our detailed investigation enables to detect the most energy consuming unit operation, that is, the bottleneck point(s) of the microalgae-based technologies which should be still improved in the future for the sake of more efficient algae-based biorefineries. The investigation makes also possible to evaluate and compare the different large scale alternatives for biomass transformation. Positive energy balances with a NER value of 1.109 and 1.137 are found in two already existing processes: open raceway ponds and closed photobioreactors, respectively. Our work gives also a detailed algorithm that can be followed at the evaluation of other microalgae-based biorefineries.     

Thermal analysis of 9977 radioactive material package

The 9977 package is a certified type B transportation packaging that was designed to transport radioactive materials with a decay heat load of up to 19?W. The packaging was recently modified to accommodate increased content heat load (up to 38?W) by employing an aluminium heat dissipating sleeve outside the containment vessel (CV), as well as an aluminium spacer inside the CV holding two 3013 containers. This paper provides highlights of thermal analyses of the modified 9977 package that were performed to evaluate its compliance with the 10 CFR 71 regulatory safety requirements. Parametric studies were also performed to examine effects of (i) surface properties, e.g. light absorptivity and emissivity, of the packaging; (ii) total decay heat loads, ranging from 18 to 38?W; and (iii) distribution of decay heat load inside the CV on the temperature of the Viton O-ring seal. The results of thermal analyses show that for the normal condition of transport with insolation, increasing absorptivity and decreasing emissivity increase the temperature of the O-ring; decreasing heat load decreases the temperature of the O-ring, whereas changing heat load distribution has little effect on the temperature of the O-ring. Likewise, changing the thermal conductivity of the spacer inside the CVhas little effect on the temperature of the O-ring. Briefly discussed is the possible extension of the annual maintenance interval of the 9977 package, based on previous work and the data obtained in the long-term leak performance tests conducted by the Savannah River National Laboratory.     

Anti‐proliferative activity of bovine blood hydrolysates towards cancer cells in culture

Four proteins, α/β globulin, serum albumin, γ‐globulin and fibrinogen, were isolated from bovine blood and hydrolysed using papain. Hydrolysates were assessed for non‐cellular and cellular antioxidant activity. The anti‐proliferative activity of hydrolysed fractions was assessed in a number of cancer cell lines including U937 lymphoma cells, MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, HepG2 hepatocytes and Caco‐2 epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Anti‐inflammatory activity of the hydrolysates was also assessed. Hydrolysates generated from γ‐globulin or fibrinogen had significant antioxidant activity in non‐cellular assays. Hydrolysates were also found to be highly toxic to different cancer cell lines, in particular U937 lymphoma cells when assessed using the MTT assay. The fibrinogen hydrolysate was the most toxic sample and toxicity appeared to correlate with its non‐cellular antioxidant activity. None of the hydrolysates had significant anti‐inflammatory activity. The high cytotoxicity of the γ‐globulin and the fibrinogen hydrolysates towards cancer cells may indicate a potential use as anti‐proliferative agents.     

Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on retinal development: Cellular and molecular aspects

We have recently shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is necessary for survival and differentiation of rat retinal photoreceptors during development in vitro. In cultures lacking DHA, retinal neurons developed normally for 4 d; then photoreceptors selectively started an apoptotic pathway leading to extensive degeneration of these cells by day 11. DHA protected photoreceptors by delaying the onset of apoptosis; in addition, it advanced photoreceptor differentiation, promoting opsin expression and inducing apical differentiation in these neurons. DHA was the only fatty acid having these effects. Mitochondrial damage accompanied photoreceptor apoptosis and was markedly reduced upon DHA supplementation. This suggests that a possible mechanism of DHA-mediated photoreceptor protection might be the preservation of mitochondrial activity; a critical amount of DHA in mitochondrial phospholipids might be required for proper functioning of these organelles, which in turn might be essential to avoid cell death. Müller cells in culture appeared to be involved in DHA processing: they took up DHA, incorporated in into glial phospholipids, and channeled it to photoreceptors in coculture. Both Müller cells, when cocultured with neuronal cells, and the glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protected photoreceptors from cell death. These results suggest that glial cells may play a central role in regulating photoreceptor survival during development through the provision of trophic factors. The multiple effects of DHA on photoreceptors suggest that in addition to its structural role, DHA might be one of the trophic factors required by these cells.