Study of the impact of a new hurdle technology composed of electro‐activated solution and low heat treatment on the canned pea and corn quality and microbial safety

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of sterilised canned pea and corn in electro‐activated brine solutions at moderate temperatures. The lowest change in vitamin C was associated with the lowest heat treatment, while the short treatment time resulted in significant changes in texture and colour of vegetables. Best texture profile was obtained with the acid electro‐activated brine solution for pea and corn. The neutral electro‐activated brine solution resulted in a less firm texture for pea and corn. The green colour and brightness of canned pea were higher when neutral solution was used (a* = ?8.4 ± 0.3) than for the acidic one (a* = ?3.7 ± 0.6). The yellowness of corn was better with the neutral electro‐activated brine solution (b* = 36.32 ± 1.24) than with the acidic one (b* = 28.44 ± 2.39). Thirty‐three percent decrease of energy consumption was obtained using the electro‐activation technology.     

Assessment of the structural factors controlling the enzymatic saccharification of rice straw cellulose

In this study, the structural factors controlling the enzymatic saccharification of rice straw cellulose were examined by preparing structure-modified rice straw samples such as dewaxed, alkali-treated, oxidized, and swollen rice straw. It was found that the initial enzymatic saccharification rate of the various structure-modified samples was largely controlled by the initial cellulose surface area of the cellulose unit. Although the presence of lignin limited the cellulose surface area, there was no strong relationship between the lignin content and the initial reaction. On the other hand, the long-term enzymatic saccharification of rice straw cellulose highly depended on the lignin removal rate (lignin content). It was also found that silica is not a crucial factor in controlling the enzymatic saccharification.     

Mesophilic biohydrogen production from calcium hydroxide treated wheat straw

The use of Ca(OH)₂ pre-treatment to improve fermentative biohydrogen yields, from wheat straw was investigated. Wheat straw was pre-treated with 7.4% (w/w) Ca(OH)₂ at ambient temperature (20 °C) for 2, 5, 8, and 12 days, prior to 35 °C fermentation with sewage sludge inoculum. Biohydrogen yields were evaluated during dark fermentation and simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) of total pre-treated straw material and compared to those from separated solid and hydrolysate fractions. Ca(OH)₂ pre-treatment followed by SSF, exhibited a synergetic relationship. On average, 58.78 mL-H₂ g-VS⁻¹ was produced from SSF of pre-treated and filtered solids. This was accompanied by approximately a 10-fold increase in volatile fatty acid production, compared to the untreated control. By omitting pre-treatment hydrolysate liquors from SSF, H₂ production increased on average by 35.8%, per VS of harvested straw. Additional inhibition studies indicated that CaCO₃, formed as a result of pre-treatment pH control, could promote homoacetogenesis and reduce biohydrogen yields.     

Logistics cost analysis of rice straw pellets for feasible production capacity and spatial scale in heat utilization systems: A case study in Nanporo town,Hokkaido, Japan

Rice straw is a promising renewable energy source because it is abundantly available in Asia. This study conducted a case study of logistics cost analysis for rice straw pellets by considering all stages in the supply chain to define the main factors affecting the selling price of rice straw pellets: collection (job-commission or employment of part-time workers), transportation, storage (vinyl greenhouses or storage buildings with larger capacity), pelletizing, and delivery to users with biomass boilers. The selling price was found to be strongly dependent on the production capacity because the investment cost for the pellet production facility had a significant effect of economies of scale. A production capacity of larger than 1500 t y⁻¹ is required for rice straw pellets to compete with wood pellets and fossil fuels in the studied Japanese context if the subsidy rate for the investment is 50%, part-time workers conduct the collection, and rice straw is stored in the storage buildings. Our sensitivity analysis also showed an economically feasible spatial scale: for example, rice straw should be collected within a 20 km radius and the users should be within a 38 km radius when the production capacity is 1500 t y⁻¹. In addition, other critical factors related to the collection of rice straw from the paddy fields and transportation of rice straw rolls to storage were identified as planning factors to further reduce the total logistics cost of rice straw pellets.     

Physicochemical characterisation of corn extrudates prepared with varying levels of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) at different extrusion temperatures

This study examines the effect of beetroot powder (BRP) incorporation (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) at different extrusion temperatures (125, 150 and 175 °C) on the physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of corn grit (CG) extrudates. BRP showed higher values of total phenolic content (TPC = 9095 μg GAE g^?1) and free radical inhibition (ABTS = 6.5 μm trolox mg^?1 and DPPH = 7.9 μm trolox mg^?1) than CG (1346 μg GAE g^?1, 1.5 μm trolox mg^?1 and 2.2 μm trolox mg^?1, respectively). Pasting viscosity (peak, breakdown and final) decreased, while pasting temperature of CG increased with the level of BRP incorporation. Analyses of the extrudates showed an increase in redness, bulk density, hardness, TPC, free radical inhibition, total dietary fibre (TDF) and a decrease in water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), expansion ratio and oil uptake with the increase in the level of BRP incorporation. On the other hand, higher extrusion temperature increased porosity, WAI, WSI, oil uptake but decreased redness, bulk density, hardness and TPC.     

Corn grain-processing method interacts with calcium salts of palm fatty acids supplementation on milk production and energy balance of early-lactation cows grazing tropical pasture

The objective of our study was to investigate the associative effects of feeding Ca salts of palm fatty acids (FA) and corn grain-processing method on production, nutrient digestibility, energy balance, and carryover effects of early-lactation dairy cows grazing a tropical pasture. Treatment diets were offered from 3 to 16 wk postpartum (treatment period), in which all cows grazed elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum L. Cameroon) and treatments were added to a concentrate supplement. Treatments were flint corn grain-processing method either as fine ground (FGC) or steam-flaked (SFC) associated with Ca salts of palm FA supplementation either not supplemented or supplemented (CSPO). From 17 to 40 wk postpartum (carryover period) all cows received a common diet fed as total mixed ration. During the treatment period, a tendency for an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method were observed for milk yield, milk fat yield, and energy-corrected milk (ECM), as CSPO caused them to increased to a greater extent in the FGC diet compared with the SFC diet. Furthermore, a tendency for an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method was observed for body weight change, because CSPO increased body weight loss in the FGC diet but not in the SFC diet. The CSPO increased milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, ECM, and cumulative milk yield compared with not supplemented. Also, CSPO increased energy intake, milk energy output, and energy partitioning toward milk, whereas reduced energy was allocated to body reserves. The SFC increased milk yield, ECM, milk protein yield, milk casein yield, and cumulative milk yield, and decreased milk urea N compared with FGC. The SFC compared with FGC also increased body condition score and body weight change, and increased energy partitioning toward body reserves. During the carryover period, an interaction between CSPO and corn grain-processing method was observed for milk yield, which occurred because CSPO maintained higher milk yield in the FGC diet but not in the SFC diet. Therefore, in the carryover period, the additive effect between SFC and CSPO that occurred in the treatment period was not maintained throughout the carryover period. However, CSPO increased yields of milk fat, protein, casein as well as fat-corrected milk and ECM. In conclusion, corn grain-processing method interacts with CSPO supplementation on production responses and carryover effects of grazing cows. When CSPO was fed in the FGC diet, milk production increased to a greater extent than when fed in the SFC diet, but also caused greater mobilization of reserves at early lactation. This suggests an interaction between fat supplementation and corn grain-processing method on energy partitioning of dairy cows. Also, both supplementation with CSPO and SFC were effective strategies to increase energy intake and yields of milk and milk solids. The carryover effect on milk production was greater for CSPO supplementation than corn grain-processing method, whereas feeding SFC diets had lower mobilization of reserves and less body weight and body condition score variation throughout lactation.     

GIS mapping of rice straw residue for bioenergy purpose in a rural area of Assam,India

Agricultural residues are a promising source of biomass energy. However, agricultural residues are seasonally available and loosely distributed over large geographical areas and hence require spatio-temporal assessment. Satellite image is a handy input for such assessment and high resolution image could increase the preciseness of estimation. In the present study, rice cropland is mapped using high resolution WorldView-2 satellite image in a rural area of Assam, India. The rice cropland map in combination with agricultural statistics is then analyzed in GIS in order to assess rice straw availability for potential bioenergy generation. About 54% land of study area belongs to rice cropland, which can contribute 5360 tonnes surplus rice straw per annum (equivalent to 83,296 GJ). Potential electric power capacity from the surplus rice straw in the study area is 523.50 kW. However, at individual village level the potential varies from 4.45 kW to 28.69 kW. Considering the power crisis in India, the findings of this work are expected to assist policy makers and biomass energy developers in decision making process. Particularly, this paper generated information on village level rice straw residue availability and subsequently potential electric power capacity. Such information is limited in the India expect for few states.     

Improving the performance of asphalt mixture by addition of short-thin wheat straw pieces

To reduce costs and prevent environmental pollution in the fabrication process of straws fibrosis, a simple and efficient method of straw-reinforced asphalt concrete is proposed, which adds short-thin wheat straw pieces (SWSPs) into asphalt mixture directly. The road performances of wheat straw asphalt mixture (WSAM) are evaluated by means of three-point flexural test, rutting test, freeze thaw split test and the test of fracture toughness. The results show that when the SWSPs content is between 0.1% and 0.2%, the flexural strength of asphalt mixture increases by 23%, the dynamic stability by 48% (reaching 1592 times), fracture toughness by 27% while the rut depth decreases by 44%. It is indicated that high temperature stability of the asphalt mixture and low temperature crack resistance are intensified by adding an appropriate amount of SWSPs, and the results of freeze thaw split test manifest that the moisture susceptibility of WSAM is weaker.     

草料自燃防范的研究

近年来兴起的秸秆打包并不能消除其自燃的危险。使用弗-卡模型,测定了不同体积稻麦秸秆的临界温度(Ta,cr);并依据实际状况对弗-卡模型进行了改进,测定了稻麦秸秆的Tc;探讨了含水量以及打包密度对Tc的影响。得出初始含水量13.65%,密度344kg.m-3打包麦秸秆的Tc为66～69℃,最大安全堆砌直径为7.3m;初始含水量15.27%,密度285kg.m-3打包稻秸秆的Tc为83～86℃,最大安全堆砌直径为8.5m的结论。这一研究对草料场的安全管理意义重大。