1.Saccharification of Sugarcane Bagasse by Enzymatic Treatment for bioethanol production
Firoz Md. Ahmed ; Sabita Rezwana Rahman ; Donald James Gomes
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2012;8(2):97-103
Aims: The escalating demands for traditional fossil fuels with unsecured deliverance and issues of climate change
compel the researchers to develop alternative fuels like bioethanol. This study examines the prospect of biofuel
production from high carbohydrate containing lignocellulosic material, e.g. sugarcane bagasse through biological means.
Methodology and Results: Cellulolytic enzymes were collected from the culture filtrate of thermotolerant Trichoderma viride grown on variously pre-treated sugarcane bagasse. CMCase and FPase enzyme activities were determined as a measure of suitable substrate pre-treatment and optimum condition for cellulolytic enzyme production. The highest CMCase and FPase activity was found to be 1.217 U/ml and 0.109 U/ml respectively under the production conditions of 200 rpm, pH 4.0 and 50 °C using steamed NaOH treated bagasse as substrate. SEM was carried out to compare and confirm the activity of cellulolytic enzymes on sugarcane bagasse. Saccharification of pre-treated bagasse was carried
out with crude enzymes together using a two-factor experimental design. Under optimized conditions the pre-treated bagasse was saccharified up to 42.7 % in 24 h. The hydrolysate was concentrated by heating to suitable concentration and then used for fermentation by an indigenous isolate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. With 50 and 80 % brix containing liquor the concentration of alcohol was 0.579 % and 1.15 % respectively.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This is the first report in Bangladesh for the production of cellulosic
ethanol using local isolates. Though the rate of alcohol production was very low, a great impetus in this field can
maximize the production thereby meet the demand for fuel in future.
2. Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and encountered side-effects among the vaccinated in Bangladesh
Md. Iftakhar PARVEJ ; Mimma TABASSUM ; Samina SULTANA ; Seefat E. MANNAN ; Firoz AHMED
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2021;14(8):341-349
Objective: To identify the acceptance of the vaccine based on factors influencing the vaccination program and the side effects from vaccinated people. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 1 529 Bangladeshi adults (≥18 years) was conducted between 17 April, 2021 and 26 April, 2021. Statistical analysis of the data included Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 67.04% of the participants were willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, and 45.00% of them in our study had already received. Overall Bangladeshi people were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccine if the vaccine reduces risk of infectious disease and has no associated health risk after receiving it. Among the respondents, religions, education level, living area (urban), belif that vaccines protect against infectious diseases and vaccines do not have health-related risk and vaccination was significantly associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Conversely, people's perception on development of natural immunity rather than receiving vaccines was also positively reflected. More than half (57.41%) reported minor side effects such as fever, muscle pain and headache after getting vaccine shots. Conclusions: This study revealed that the acceptance rate was influenced by socio-demographic and health-related characteristics and people are not afraid of this vaccine if they faced minor side effects after receiving it. These findings might help the government and policymakers of Bangladesh to implement necessary steps to accomplish this vaccination program effectively.