Encapsulation of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis using polyvinyl alcohol-based formulations

Currently, the implementation of the use of bioenergy continues in Mexico. On July 30, 2020, the Central de Abastos Biodiesel Plant was launched as part of a project supported by the Mexico City government through the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SECTEI). The biodiesel produced is used in the Mexico City Public Transportation Network (Bus and Metrobus). This project points out as collateral benefits the reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), the use of waste, and technology transfer. Currently, biodiesel is produced using used edible oil as raw material; however, the collection of this waste is not sufficient, so it is necessary to evaluate the use of alternative raw materials. Therefore, the objective of this project is to carry out an environmental assessment using an LCA approach of the biodiesel production process, using the CML 2000 evaluation methodology to evaluate sunflower oil as an alternative raw material. The impact categories assessed were: abiotic depletion, global warming (GWP100a), ozone depletion (ODP), human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, photochemical oxidation, acidification, and eutrophication. The sunflowers were grown and harvested by ejidatarios (communal landowners) in Zempoala, Hidalgo, Mexico. The land used for the crop was unused due to unprofitable prices for products such as oats and corn. Therefore, the ejidatarios provided their full support to monitor the sunflower planting, considering this project as an alternative solution that would provide the necessary primary data for analysis. This project was supported by Grupo Ambiental Sahra, S.A. de C.V., which was interested in evaluating the use of organic waste (OR) from the paper industry as an alternative for sunflower growth and to avoid the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Laboratory tests were also conducted to estimate the quantity and quality of the oil obtained from the sunflower harvest. Oil extraction yields were evaluated to provide a preliminary assessment of the environmental impacts generated during the agronomic and industrial stages, thereby promoting the use of biofuels in the country.