In recent decades, the concern over depletion of the world׳s petroleum reserves and environmental pollution has increased the demand to develop a renewable and environmental friendly fuel. Biodiesel, which mainly consists of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) is one of the best substitutes for diesel fuel. Currently, vegetable oils, edible or non-edible, are the main resources of biodiesel. This review aims at providing comprehensive information and analyzes on biodiesel produced from edible and non-edible vegetable oils, their composition and specifications. Accordingly, the Fatty Acid (FA) profiles of 28 edible vegetable oils and 40 non-edible vegetable oils were collected. Their main specifications including sulfur content, density, viscosity, flash point, cloud point, pour point, cold filter plugging point, cetane number, iodine number, heating value, acid value and carbon residual before and after transesterification (vegetable oil and biodiesel, respectively) were analyzed in detail. Many researchers have developed prediction models to quantify biodiesel specifications to optimize its manufacturing and obtain biodiesel with the best specifications. Three factors that are especially influential are the fatty acids profiles, the degree of unsaturation within the FA structures and molecular weight. Accordingly, many models have been constructed on these features. There are also models that quantify the relationship between the biodiesel specifications and its thermodynamic properties or other specifications. Accordingly, the second part of this work was conducted on the existing prediction models. All the models were discussed along with their deviation in prediction.

A comprehensive review on properties of edible and non-edible vegetable oil-based biodiesel: Composition, specifications and prediction models

NOx emission of biodiesel compared to diesel: Higher or lower?

Solid state fermentation of food waste mixtures for single cell protein, aroma volatiles and fat production.

Seeds recovered from industry by-products of nine fruit species with a high potential utility as a source of unconventional oil for biodiesel and cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors.

Cell genetics, culture conditions and the recovery efficiency of cells and products are the bottlenecks for industrial bioprocesses from microalgae. Microalgae lipids can be used for different applications, e.g., drugs, food, and biofuels, and their purpose considers the nature and concentration of the lipids that are wished to obtain. For the biotechnological production of lipids, adequate culture conditions are necessary to enable the cell strain to obtain high biomass and lipid yields and productivities. Also, the processes of separating the cells from the culture medium and releasing the lipids from that biomass need to be efficient and economically viable. Considering that cultivation, cell recovery and lipid extraction directly reflect the results obtained, the most appropriate methods for these operations must be applied. Many literature reviews report the lipid and fatty acid contents obtained through the cultivation of different microalgae species and strains. However, few studies relate the contents of these biomolecules, either with the methods of obtaining the biomass or with the extraction of lipids. Even so far there is no review in the literature with such an approach. The aim of this work was to review and discuss the culture conditions for different microalgae strains and their influence on lipid content; the separation of microalgae biomass, including biomass thickening methods, and methods of biomass depletion; the methods of cellular disruption and lipid extraction; the influence on biofuels’ production, e.g. biodiesel, bioalcohols and biohydrogen; and the influence of green chemistry (solvents and extraction technologies) for a sustainable production of biofuels under the concept of biorefinery.

Biomass recovery and lipid extraction processes for microalgae biofuels production: A review

Influence of fatty acid composition of woody biodiesel plants on the fuel properties

In order to improve the aqueous solubility and enhance the bioavailability of Hyperoside (Hyp), three inclusion complexes (ICs) of Hyp with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2H-β-CD), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD) were prepared using the ultrasonic method. The characterization of the inclusion complexes (ICs) was achieved using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). The effects of the ICs on the solubility and antioxidant activity of Hyp were investigated. A Job’s plot revealed that the Hyp formed ICs with three kinds of cyclodextrin (CD), all at a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. The FTIR, SEM, XRPD, TLC, and 1H NMR results confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes. The water solubility of the IC of Hyp with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was enhanced 9-fold compared to the solubility of the original Hyp. The antioxidant activity tests showed that the inclusion complexes had higher antioxidant activities compared to free Hyp in vitro and the H2O2–RAW264.7 cell model. Therefore, encapsulation with CDs can not only improve Hyp’s water solubility but can also enhance its biological activity, which provides useful information for the potential application of complexation with Hyp in a clinical context.

/pdf/preparation-and-properties-of-cyclodextrin-inclusion-1ajkv5c6.pdf

Preparation and Properties of Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of Hyperoside

The Acanthopanax senticosus has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological activities, which are associated with health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. A previous study has shown that the n-butanol fraction of A. senticosus extract had the strongest antioxidant effect in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the effects that the n-butanol fraction of A. senticosus extract could relieve oxidative stress damage through antioxidant and antiapoptotic in the H2O2-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and the CCl4-induced liver injury. The result showed that the n-butanol fraction extract could relieve damage by increasing the intracellular antioxidant enzymes (SOD) level, decreasing intracellular ROS and MDA levels, and regulating antioxidant and antiapoptotic-related gene expression levels. The morphological observation of HE, TUNE, and immunohistochemistry staining of liver tissue verified that the n-butanol fraction extract is though anti-oxidative and antiapoptotic to alleviate cellular oxidative damage. The RT-PCR assay showed that the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE and the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway were related to the molecular mechanism of action. The experimental results show that Acanthopanax senticosus extract has a good effect in treating liver injury and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the body.

/pdf/antioxidant-and-antiapoptotic-properties-of-n-butanol-2z1dlt6d.pdf

Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Properties of n-Butanol Fraction the Acanthopanax senticosus Extracts in H2O2-RAW264.7 Cells and CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Rui-ying Liu

Papers

Influence of fatty acid composition of woody biodiesel plants on the fuel properties

Preparation and Properties of Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes of Hyperoside

Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Properties of n-Butanol Fraction the Acanthopanax senticosus Extracts in H2O2-RAW264.7 Cells and CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Mice