Sugarcane bagasse is an abundant lignocellulosic residue whose hemicellulosic fraction can support fermentation for value-added bioproducts, but agricultural responses to crude bioemulsifiers from this stream remain poorly explored. This study produced and characterized a solvent-washed, non-dialyzed crude bioemulsifier (crude BE) by Scheffersomyces shehatae 16-BR6-2AI in a sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate (SBHH)-based medium supplemented with soybean oil and evaluated concentration-dependent effects on Lactuca sativa early development. After 144 h, broths from three flasks were pooled for recovery. The preparation yielded 18.0 g L−1 crude BE and contained 54.7 ± 1.2% carbohydrates, 37.7 ± 1.0% proteins, and 7.6 ± 0.5% lipids. At 1000 mg L−1, EI₂₄ and EI₁₆₈ were 59.3 ± 2.1% and 51.8 ± 1.9%, respectively, corresponding to 87.4% retention. In filter-paper assays, 500 mg L−1 resulted in 100% final germination, a germination speed index of 33.92, a mean germination time of 2.14 d, and a radicle length of 61.66 ± 1.32 mm versus 50.30 ± 1.60 mm in the control. At 5000–10,000 mg L−1, germination was delayed and seedling growth was restricted despite 93.33% final germination. A complementary horticultural-substrate assay at 500 mg L−1 showed higher observed emergence, hypocotyl length, and estimated cotyledon area than the untreated control. These results link SBHH valorization to production of a functionally active crude bioemulsifier and support further evaluation under independently replicated greenhouse or controlled-environment conditions.
Magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) is a type of chemically bonded phosphate ceramic whose hydration requires effective control to ensure adequate workability and stable performance. This study investigates sugar beet molasses (SBM), a carbohydrate rich agro-industrial by-product, as a bio-based admixture for regulating MKPC hydration. MKPC pastes containing SBM (SBM-to-MgO mass ratios of 0.1–0.5) were evaluated in terms of hydration temperature, early-age compressive strength, physical properties, phase composition, and microstructure. SBM effectively moderated hydration by reducing the peak temperature and redistributing heat release over time. Moderate SBM dosages enhanced early compressive strength while reducing water absorption and accessible porosity. XRD and FTIR confirmed that SBM preserved the struvite-dominated phase assemblage, whereas SEM revealed refined hydration products and a denser matrix. Overall, SBM acts as an effective bio-based hydration regulator, improving the early-age performance and physical properties of MKPC while promoting the valorization of an agricultural by-product.
The upcycling approach to biofuel production is a significant emerging strategy for simultaneously removing waste and generating high-value products. As one of the most abundant environmental pollutants and among the most resistant to natural degradation, microplastics (MPs) have been proposed as a candidate feedstock for biological systems designed to convert them into biofuel. In this study, a newly isolated yeast strain, Candida tropicalis EBL70, was isolated. This strain showed 12.8% efficiency in the biodegradation of LDPE-MPs in synthetic wastewater, physically eroding and chemically oxidizing these particles, as revealed by SEM and FTIR analysis. Simultaneously, along with MP removal, the yeast strain produced 670 mg/L of lipids over 40 days. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that the fatty acid profile of the lipids is predominantly composed of long-chain saturated fatty acids, including palmitic (39%), oleic (20%), linoleic (16%), and stearic (13%) acids. Among the properties of the biolipids produced, the cetane number, oxidative stability, iodine value, and the presence of FAME with more than four double bonds align with the standards set by the EU and the US for biodiesel feedstocks. These findings suggest that C. tropicalis EBL70 holds significant promise for both biodiesel production and the degradation of LDPE-MPs, offering valuable contributions toward sustainable solutions for plastic bio-upcycling.
Activated carbon derived from cocoa shells (CCAC) effectively removes cationic dyes such as Malachite Green (MG) and Basic Fuchsin (BF); however, dye-saturated adsorbents are typically discarded after use. In this study, a sustainable adsorption-to-energy conversion strategy was developed by thermally upcycling dye-loaded CCAC at 600 °C into nitrogen-functionalized porous carbon electrodes for supercapacitor applications. CCAC exhibited high adsorption capacities of 404.57 mg g−1 for MG and 399.27 mg g−1 for BF. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, while equilibrium behavior was best described by the Langmuir model for MG and the Freundlich model for BF. The proposed adsorption-to-energy conversion mechanism was supported by complementary SEM, BET, FTIR, EDS, XRD, Boehm titration, and pHPZC analyses, which collectively confirmed additional pore development, dye-assisted nitrogen functionalization, and surface chemical evolution after thermal treatment, resulting in significantly enhanced electrochemical performance. Among the prepared electrodes, CCAC_BF_600 exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 425 F g−1 at 0.25 A g−1 and an energy density of 30.66 Wh kg−1 in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Graphene-based density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that surface-associated nitrogen functionalization is thermodynamically more favorable than substitutional doping. Combined with experimental evidence, these results support the proposed adsorption to energy conversion pathway for sustainable upcycling of spent dye adsorbents into electroactive carbon materials.
