Chapters authored
Beyond Bread and Beer: Value-Added Products from Wheat
Although wheat (Triticum aestivum) and related cereals [Barley (Hordeum vulgare), Rye (Secale cereale) are primarily used for producing baked goods and beverages, cereal crops can be used to create many value-added goods beyond these traditional products. Fractionation of cereal grains and extraction of valuable phytochemicals allows greater access to materials for use in food additives and nutritional supplements. Fermentation for beverage and fuel bioethanol production results in not only renewable fuel, but also a range of other coproducts, including nootropics. In addition to traditional grain fermentation, straw fermentation is also discussed, which further utilizes the whole plant. The main by-product of cereal grain fermentation, wheat stillage, can undergo a range of processes to enhance its value as a animal feeds, as well as extraction of useful compounds. These methods provide a glimpse of the many sequential and divergent processes that may bring us closer to realizing the full potential of wheat and related cereal grains.
Part of the book: Wheat
Implications of COVID-19 on Public Policy, Supply Chain Disruptions, and Monitoring Methods
Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, referred to as COVID-19, has persisted beyond 2020 and led to a global pandemic with far reaching consequences. Many changes in public policy and health measures were developed and implemented with the intention of slowing the spread of the novel virus. Disruptions from the global pandemic created major supply chain consequences due to stockpiling of essential goods (alcohol-based hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants), impacts on trade routes, and limitations on modes of transportation due to border closures. Rapid increase in the use of hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants significantly affected the production capacity of high-quality ethanol (e.g., USP and FCC grade) resulting in regulatory changes in countries facing shortages. Prompt enactment of government policies allowed for use of alcohol with higher impurities to offset heightened demand and increase commercial availability. Changes in monitoring methods were also observed, where many agencies began to track viral shedding through municipal wastewater. In this chapter, we will discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on public policies and health measures, economics as it relates to supply chain disruptions, and the implementation of novel monitoring methods to survey the spread of COVID-19.
Part of the book: Zoonosis of Public Health Interest
Biodiesel Refining and Processing Strategies
Biodiesel fuel is produced from triglyceride fats, and oils obtained from plant and animal sources. Typically, triglycerides are first transesterified to produce fatty acid alkyl esters (FAAE) and then refined. Traditional FAAE refining strategies are often energy-intensive, requiring large amounts of water (e.g., wet washing), adsorbents, and/or chemicals. Refining, in turn, produces substantial amounts of waste and is accompanied by the loss of biodiesel as neutral oil entrained in waste. A wide array of methods and technologies have been developed for industrial oil purification. Successful refining practices minimize waste and limit neutral oil losses. Recent studies have explored the use of adsorbents, solvent purification processes, membrane filtration, as well as novel applications of electrostatic field treatments to remove polar impurities (including free fatty acids, residues, soaps, and glycerides), and particulates from oils. This chapter will review and compare traditional current and novel strategies for refining FAAE for use as biodiesel.
Part of the book: Advanced Biodiesel