Glycolic acid (GAc) is used in a variety of applications, e.g., in the textile and leather industry, in dermatology and cosmetics and as a monomer to produce biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) for e.g. biodegradable packaging. Currently, GAc is mainly produced from fossil feedstocks. To improve sustainability and circularity, a bio-based route is highly desirable. Pyrolysis of glucose and other monomeric sugars is an effective way to produce glycolaldehyde (GAl) from agricultural side streams. Hence, the selective catalytic oxidation of GAl to GAc is of scientific as well as industrial interest. Due to high reactivity of GAl, it is challenging to reach high selectivities (required for many applications) at industrially relevant conversions. Here we report the catalytic oxidation of GAl to glycolic acid using a Pt/C catalyst. Our experimental results show high selectivity at high conversion, while maintaining a high carbon balance under DoE optimised reaction conditions. The impact of oxygen pressure, catalyst : substrate ratio, and substrate concentration, as well as pH effects and product inhibition are addressed. Catalyst stability tests and characterisation studies (HAADF-STEM, BET, XRD, XPS, Elemental analysis) confirm that Pt/C is a promising catalyst for the selective oxidation of GAl to GAc. The experimental results are rationalized by employing DFT-metadynamics simulations at the finite reaction temperature and heterogeneous phase, where the entire reaction mechanism and network of main and side products are investigated and the key-elementary steps identified.
Abstract Copper supplementation at pharmacological levels (100–250 ppm) has been shown to enhance growth rate and feed efficiency in nursery and growing-finishing pigs. This study evaluated the efficacy of a proprietary copper-clay compound (CC) compared to tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) in growing-finishing pigs, focusing on growth metrics, carcass characteristics, and fecal microbial populations. A total of 2,368 pigs (DNA Line 600 × DNA Line 241) with initial BW of 25±2 kg were randomly assigned to 74 pens (32 pigs per pen, balanced by sex) across two barns. Pigs were fed five dietary phases from 25 to 133 kg BW. Pens were allocated to one of four treatments: Negative Control (NC), TBCC (NC + 150, 135 or,125 ppm Cu from TBCC), CC200 (NC + 200 ppm of CC), and CC100 (NC + 200 ppm of CC for phases 1–2, then 100 ppm for phases 3–5). Body weight and feed intake were recorded at the start and end of each phase to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F). Hot carcass weight (HCW) and yield (YLD) were measured at slaughter. Data were analyzed using Mixed-Model procedures with LS means and Student’s T tests (JMP Pro 19). Pen was the experimental unit with barn used as random effect and treatment as a fixed effect. While no statistical differences were observed for overall ADG, with values ranging from 1.04 to 1.06 kg/day, or ADFI with values ranging from 2.88 to 2.97 kg/day (P = 0.66 and 0.37 respectively), both CC200 and CC100 had an improved overall G:F over the NC (0.361, 0.364 and 0.353 respectively) (P < 0.05). TBCC also improved G:F compared to NC (0.364 and 0.353 respectively) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, both CC200 and CC100 treatments resulted in significantly higher end weights (133.7 and 133.7, kg respectively) and HCW (101.3 and 100.7, kg respectively) compared to NC or TBCC end weights (132.5 and 132.4, kg respectively) (P < 0.05) and HCW (99.8 and 99.8, kg respectively) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the proprietary copper-clay compound, particularly at 200 ppm, is a promising alternative to TBCC for improving carcass weight and feed conversion.
This study aimed to assess the technical feasibility and economic viability of cellulose nanocrystals produced from a marine animal, i.e., tunicate. An industrial-scale process simulation model was developed with a 50 tonne/day production capacity of tunicate-based cellulose nanocrystals, at 1
Abstract Compared to solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM), extruded full-fat soybeans (FFSB) provide greater energy due to their higher oil content, while expeller soybean cake offers a moderate improvement in energy relative to SBM. Issues feeding pigs high levels of FFSB include increased antinutritional factors and altered dietary fatty acid composition, which could antagonize growth and alter carcass iodine value and meat quality. Compared to conventional soybeans, feeding high oleic acid soybeans (HO) may lower dietary polyunsaturated fat content and improve pig growth performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding conventional or HO extruded whole soybeans on grow-finish pig performance and carcass characteristics. A total of 1260 pigs (27.8±1.11 kg BW; PIC 800 x1050) were weighed and randomly allotted by sex across 60 mixed-sex pens (21 pigs/pen). Pens were blocked by location in the barn and randomly assigned, within block, to one of four dietary treatments (15 pens/trt): 1) Conventional solvent-extracted SBM (CON), 2) Conventional FFSB (CFFSB), 3) High oleic acid FFSB (HOFFSB), and 4) High oleic acid soybean expeller cake (HOEC). Diets were fed in five phases (∼23-41, 42-63, 64-86, 87-109, and 110-133 kg BW) and were formulated to have similar SID Lys and SID Lys:ME. Pen BW and feed disappearance were collected at the start and end of each phase to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Pigs were marketed in multiple cuts at a target live BW of ∼130 kg. At a commercial harvesting facility, carcass weight, backfat depth, and loin depth were collected per pig, and carcass yield and fat-free lean were calculated. Additionally, carcass fat samples were collected for fatty acid analysis. All data were analyzed according to a randomized complete block design, with treatment and block included as fixed effects in the models. Pen was the experimental unit. Pen average pig BW and mortality and removals did not differ between treatments (P > 0.10). Overall, CON, CFFSB, HOFFSB, and HOEC ADG were not different (0.87, 0.89, 0.89 and 0.88 kg/d, respectively; P = 0.491). However, ADFI was higher in CON, compared to HOEC, CFFSB, and HOFFSB (2.37, 2.25, 2.16 and 2.17 kg/d, respectively; P < 0.001). Consequently, CFFSB and HOFFSB improved overall G:F compared to CON (111%) and HOEC (105%) treatments (P < 0.001). Carcass weight and loin depth did not differ across treatments. Feeding CFFSB or HOFFSB increased backfat by 8% compared to CON, with HOEC being intermediate (P = 0.004). Feeding CFFSB resulted in marginally reduced fat-free lean percent compared to CON and HOEC, while HOFFSB was intermediate. In conclusion, CFFSB and HOFFSB improved feed efficiency and increased backfat, with no impact on growth compared to CON. Furthermore, HOEC reduced pig ADFI and improved feed efficiency compared to CON.
