http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096195341930368X The potential of lignocellulosic feedstock has been widely studied, mainly for biofuels production, which usually requires an enzymatic step on the process. Cellulolytic enzymes have been studied as input for bioconversion and as a product from lignocellulose fermentation. The integration of these two perspectives may lead to an economically viable approach for second generation biofuels production, which is nowadays difficult due to high cost of commercial cellulase. Conversely, enzyme production by fermentation of lignocellulosic substrates is inexpensive and the hydrolytic activity of enzymes produced on these substrates, which are to be hydrolyzed, may be better than those enzymes produced on other materials, such as cellulose. Many studies have defined the ideal conditions for cellulase production and saccharification processes separately. In contrast, few reports have developed a unique and integrated process, based on the same feedstock. This review is focused on current advances and innovation in on-site cellulolytic enzymes production using plant biomass, and application of the enzymes in lignocellulose conversion to fermentable sugars for biofuel production.

Siveter, D.J., Briggs, D.E.G., Siveter, D.J., Sutton, M.D., 2020. The Herefordshire Lagerstätte: fleshing out Silurian marine life. Journal of the Geological Society 177, 1-13.

http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/177/1/1.abstract The Herefordshire Lagerstätte (c. 430 Ma) from the UK is a rare example of soft-tissue preservation in the Silurian. It yields a wide range of invertebrates in unparalleled three-dimensional detail, dominated by arthropods and sponges. The fossils are exceptionally preserved as calcitic void infills in early diagenetic carbonate concretions within a volcaniclastic (bentonite) horizon. The Lagerstätte occurs in an outer shelf/upper slope setting in the Welsh Basin, which was located on Avalonia in the southern subtropics. The specimens are investigated by serial grinding, digital photography and rendering in the round as 'virtual fossils' by computer. The fossils contribute much to our understanding of the palaeobiology and early history of the groups represented. They are important in demonstrating unusual character combinations that illuminate relationships; in calibrating molecular clocks; in variously linking with taxa in both earlier and later Paleozoic Lagerstätten; and in providing evidence of the early evolution of crown-group representatives of several groups.

Snyder, G.T., Sano, Y., Takahata, N., Matsumoto, R., Kakizaki, Y., Tomaru, H., 2020. Magmatic fluids play a role in the development of active gas chimneys and massive gas hydrates in the Japan Sea. Chemical Geology 535, 119462.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009254120300012 The Earth's marine continental margins hold significant amount of carbon in the form of gas hydrate which can interact dynamically with seawater and the atmosphere and potentially influence global climate. It is generally assumed that degradation of organic matter, through either biogenic or thermogenic processes, is responsible for the majority of the gas hydrate presently found in these deposits. We present stable isotope and noble gas results from gas hydrates in the eastern margin of the Japan Sea and compare them with previously published data regarding gases which are found nearby in deep hydrocarbon wells associated with Early Miocene igneous and sedimentary rocks. Our results show that most of the gases which accumulate in the hydrate can be described as a mixture between a deeply-sourced methane-rich thermogenic/crustal source (TC), a methane-rich admixture of biogenic gases with relatively shallow air-saturated seawater (BASW) and a methane-poor magmatic-mantle source (MM). The presence of hydrate with a mantle 3He/4He signatures indicates that fluids enriched in mantle gases are responsible for the mobilization of thermogenic gas within active Japan Sea chimney structures. The growth of primary hydrate at shallow marine sediment depths is ongoing, as is the cycling of gas to hydrate which is eventually buried and dissociated at the base of the gas hydrate stability zone, leading to large pockmark structures.

Sojinu, O.S., 2020. Preliminary evaluation of bitumen contamination in environmental samples using comprehensive gas chromatography GC×GC - Time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). Environmental Forensics 21, 79-86.