Cellulose Carbon Research Articles

Optimization of extraction conditions for cellulose from jackfruit peel using RSM, its characterization and comparative studies to commercial cellulose

A high level of research effort is now being focused on the use of bio-based materials to address the 21st century's developing problems. Thus, the search for new possible source of cellulose has been explored in this scientific work. In jackfruit, the pulp accounts for 30 % and 70–80 % of jackfruit components are non-edible; about 60 % of them are the outer rind, perianth, and central core, which are usually discarded. So, in order to utilize this underutilized fruit, jackfruit peel has been taken into consideration as a source for cellulose (C6H10O5) n extraction. Cellulose extraction was improved using the response surface methodology (RSM) approach by optimizing the extraction parameters viz. concentration of sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite respectively. The results showed that the best conditions for the highest production of 64–65 % of cellulose were 5 % of sodium hydroxide and 2 % of sodium hypochlorite. The presence of α -cellulose and the absence of hemicellulose and lignin were detected using FTIR frequencies. According to the results of the thermogravimetric investigation, the maximum decomposition occurred between 200 ºC and 300 ºC. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that jackfruit peel cellulose displayed 44 % carbon as compared to 3 % carbon in commercial cellulose, indicating a higher purity. Compared to commercial cellulose, jackfruit peel cellulose shows better water binding capacity and oil holding capacity. The findings imply that jackfruit peel has a considerable amount of cellulose and has the potential to be used in various industries such as food, paper, paints etc.

Furan and benzene ring formation in cellulose char: the roles of 5-HMF and reducing ends.

The authors previously proposed that 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) can be produced from the reducing ends of cellulose as a key intermediate during carbonization. The present work investigated the mechanisms by which furan and benzene rings are formed in cellulose char based on carbonization at 280 °C using 13C-labeled 5-HMF together with 13C-labeled glucose (as a model for the cellulose reducing ends). Glycerol was added to the 5-HMF to prevent the formation of stable glassy polymers. The resulting char was subjected to pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (764 °C, 5 s hold time) and the incorporation of 13C in furan-, phenol-, benzofuran- and benzene-type fragments was assessed. The apparent formation mechanisms include a direct rearrangement of the six carbons of 5-HMF to phenols, Diels-Alder reactions of furan rings with double bonds to give benzofurans and a more random process involving reactive fragments producing benzene rings. On the basis of these results, the roles of 5-HMF and reducing ends during cellulose carbonization are discussed herein.

Iron-impregnated cellulosic carbon as an effective electrocatalyst for seawater oxidation.

The quest for cost effective but active electrocatalysts for water oxidation is at the forefront of research towards hydrogen economy. In this regard, bamboo as biomass derived N-doped cellulosic carbon has shown potential electrocatalytic performance towards water oxidation. The impregnation of optimum metallic Fe boosts the performance further, achieving an overpotential value of 238 mV at a benchmark current density of 10 mA cm-2. Owing to its promising OER performances in alkaline freshwater, the electrocatalyst was further explored in alkaline saline water and alkaline real seawater, exhibiting overpotentials of 272 mV and 280 mV, respectively, to reach 10 mA cm-2 current density. Most importantly, the protective graphitic multilayer surrounding the metallic Fe allowed the electrocatalyst to demonstrate excellent durability over 30 h even at a high current density in alkaline real seawater electrolyte.

Identification and functional study of AA11 family polysaccharide monooxygenase genes in filamentous fungus Podospora anserina.

The lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) in the auxiliary active protein family (AA family) catalyzes the oxidative depolymerization of various refractory carbohydrates including cellulose, chitin and starch. While accumulating studies investigate the enzymology of LPMO, the research on the inactivation of LPMO genes has been rarely explored. In this study, five LPMO genes PaLPMO11A (Pa_4_4790), PaLPMO11B (Pa_1_5310), PaLPMO11C (Pa_2_7840), PaLPMO11D (Pa_2_8610) and PaLPMO11E (Pa_3_9420) of the AA11 family in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina were knocked out by homologous recombination. Single mutants ΔPaLPMO11A (ΔA), ΔPaLPMO11B (ΔB), ΔPaLPMO11C (ΔC), ΔPaLPMO11D (ΔD) and ΔPaLPMO11E (ΔE) were constructed, and then all polygenic mutants were constructed via genetic crosses. The differences in the growth rate and sexual reproduction between wild type and mutant strains were observed on different carbon source media. The alteration of oxidative stress and cellulose degradation ability were found on DAB and NBT staining and cellulase activity determination. These results implicated that LPMO11 genes play a key role in the growth, development, and lignocellulose degradation of P. anserina. The results showed that the spore germination efficiency, growth rate and reproductive capacity of mutant strains including ΔBΔCΔE, ΔAΔBΔCΔE, ΔAΔCΔDΔE and ΔAΔBΔCΔDΔE was significantly decreased on different cellulose carbon sources and the remaining strains have no difference. The reduced utilization of various carbon sources, the growth rate, the spore germination rate, the number of fruiting bodies, the normal fruiting bodies, the shortened life span and the ability to degrade cellulose were found in strains which all five genes in the PaLPMO11 family were deleted. However, the strain still had 45% cellulase activity compared to wild type. These results suggest that LPMO11 genes may be involved in the growth and development, sexual reproduction, senescence and cellulose degradation of P. anserina. This study provides information for systematically elucidating the regulatory mechanism of lignocellulose degradation in filamentous fungus P. anserina.

Steam Reforming of Isobutanol on Biochar-Supported Ni–Co Catalysts

The equilibrium parameters of steam isobutanol reforming were calculated. These include the H2 yield, selectivity with respect to carbon-containing gases, and feed conversion. The calculated data, on the whole, agree with the published data and experimental values of the isobutanol conversion and yield of isobutyraldehyde and higher alkanes on Ni–Co catalysts supported on biochars prepared by hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose. On the other hand, the calculated yields of H2, СО, and СН4 disagree with the experimental data, which suggests that the equilibrium in the experiments on the steam isobutanol reforming on this catalyst is not attained. Feeding a homogeneous mixture of water, isobutanol, and ethanol into the reactor at 700°С allows the Н2 yield to be increased from 58 to 66% and the water conversion, from 58 to 76% compared to the steam reforming of isobutanol without ethanol. The addition of ethanol allows the coking to be significantly reduced and the H2 and СО yield higher than 90% at 900°С to be reached.

Effects of Cellulosic Carbon Addition on Nitrogen Removal from Simulated Dry Land Drainage, and Its Environmental Effects

Agricultural non-point source pollution has emerged as a significant driver of declining global water quality in recent years. Ditch systems hold considerable promise for trapping and purifying pollutants. However, the persistent challenge has been the limited availability of carbon sources in drainage water, which significantly hinders nitrogen (N) removal in ditches. This study investigated the dynamic changes in ammonia (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) levels caused by three cellulosic carbon additions (rice straw, coir, and sawdust) during both winter and summer seasons. Water column devices were used as containers, and the impacts on environmental factors and water denitrification rates were explored. Results demonstrated that the addition of straw exhibited the most effective N removal in winter and summer, and significantly enhanced water denitrification rates in a short timeframe, with the maximum denitrification rate reaching 1482.42 μmol·L−1·h−1. However, there was an observed accumulation of NH4-N and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in summer. Also, the addition of sawdust resulted in a notable increase in greenhouse gas emissions during the summer test. In conclusion, during the cooler seasons of winter and spring when temperatures are not as high, the combined use of various cellulosic carbon sources has the potential to enhance water denitrification and mitigate adverse environmental impacts, offering valuable applications for water quality improvement.

Anisotropic Electronic Skin for Neurofeedback

AbstractNeurofeedback training based on brain rhythm is appealing for both cognitive neuroscience and disorder treatment. However, electrodes that can integrate dual functions of recording and feedback without signal compromise still lack. Herein, an anisotropic cellulose carbon sponge (CCS) electrode by tailoring conductivity through the temperature that has the dual ability to record electrophysiological signals and sense pressures as feedback is developed. The electrode is fabricated via a gradient temperature annealing on CCS, which involves lower (300 °C) and higher (1000 °C) temperature treatments, namely CCS‐LT and CCS‐HT. CCS‐LT exhibits perpendicular resilience to the alignment direction of CCS, and CCS‐HT possesses lower sheet resistance (≈13 Ω sq−1) parallel to the alignment direction. As a pressure sensor, CCS‐LT can achieve excellent sensitivity (1.04 kPa−1), fast response time (27 ms), and reliable stability for 1000 cycles. CCS‐HT can serve as skin electrodes for electrophysiological sensing. The anisotropic functionality of annealed CCS allows it to be used in one sensing and regulation closed‐loop system driven by nerves, achieving accurate acquisition of human brain rhythm and machine movement information simultaneously. This not only helps rapid tracking of brain activity but also facilitates feedback regulation to enhance human brain function, having great potential applications in neurofeedback and disease rehabilitation.

Preparation of carbon materials for supercapacitors in energy storage by direct hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose and pyrazine

In this study, cohydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of cellulose and pyrazine for the production of supercapacitor carbon was investigated at heating of 240 °C for 1 h. The effect of pyrazine loading on the yield of the resulting solid product (hydrochar, HC) and the properties of the activated hydrochar (AHC) were studied. The HC yield increased from 54.3 wt% to 67.2 wt% as the pyrazine loading increased from 4 wt% to 20 wt%. Further increasing the pyrazine loading had little effect on the HC yield. Adding acrylic acid (AA) to the reaction co-HTC system further increased the yield of HC, and the higher the amount of AA added, the higher the yield of hydrochar was. The results also showed that the presence of pyrazine improved the physical properties of the HC by increasing the proportion of functional groups and the specific surface area and promoting the pore-forming process of micropores. At 20 wt% pyrazine loading, the activated hydrochar (AHC) by KOH showed a specific capacitance of 195.8 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. At a current density of 5 A/g, after 20,000 charge–discharge cycles, the capacity retention remained at 99.96 %. After addition of AA, the proportion of functional groups and the specific surface area of the resulting HC were further improved; however, the specific capacitance of the AHC decreased.

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Cellulose with Ammonium Sulfate and Thiourea for the Production of Supercapacitor Carbon.

Doping with heteroatoms is the main method used to enhance energy storage with carbon materials, and polyatomic doping is one of the main challenges. Hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose was performed at 240 °C for 1 h. Ammonium sulfate and thiourea dopants were selected as the sources of inorganic nitrogen and organic nitrogen in the preparation of supercapacitor carbon. The effects of boric acid on the properties of the resulting hydrochar after KOH activation were examined. The results showed that the proportion of functional groups and the specific surface area of the activated hydrochar were reduced by the addition of boric acid, and the formation of micropores was inhibited. The hydrochar obtained from the reaction of cellulose and organic nitrogen compounds had a better pore size distribution and electrochemical properties after activation. The largest specific surface area (952.27 m2/g) was obtained when thiourea was used as the sole dopant. In a three-electrode system, the specific capacitance of the activated hydrochar reached 235.8 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. After 20,000 charging and discharging cycles at a current density of 10 A/g, the capacitance retention rate was 99.96%. Therefore, this study showed that supercapacitor carbon with good electrochemical properties was obtained by the direct reactions of cellulose with organic nitrogen compounds.

Electrochemical Sodium Storage in Hard Carbon Powder Electrodes Implemented in an Improved Cell Assembly: Insights from In-Situ and Ex-Situ Solid-State NMR.

In this work, we report on an improved cell assembly of cylindrical electrochemical cells for 23 Na in-situ solid-state NMR (ssNMR) investigations. The cell set-up is suitable for using powder electrode materials. Reproducibility of our cell assembly is analyzed by preparing two cells containing hard carbon (HC) powder as working electrode and sodium metal as reference electrode. Electrochemical storage properties of HC powder electrode derived from carbonization of sustainable cellulose are studied by ssNMR. 23 Na in-situ ssNMR monitors the sodiation/desodiation of a Na|NaPF6 |HC cell (cell 1) over a period of 22 days, showing high cell stability. After the galvanostatic process, the HC powder material is investigated by high resolution 23 Na ex-situ MAS NMR. The formation of ionic sodium species in different chemical environments is obtained. Subsequently, a second Na|NaPF6 |HC cell (cell 2) is sodiated for 11 days achieving a capacity of 220 mAh/g. 23 Na ex-situ MAS NMR measurements of the HC powder material extracted from this cell clearly indicate the presence of quasi-metallic sodium species next to ionic sodium species. This observation of quasi-metallic sodium species is discussed in terms of the achieved capacity of the cell as well as of side reactions of sodium in this electrode material.

Long-term performance of simultaneous measurement of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in cellulose with a high-temperature pyrolysis/gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry system at the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research

AbstractA high-temperature pyrolysis/gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry system was established at the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research in 2013. A dedicated field of application of the system is the simultaneous measurement of stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in the cellulose of modern, relict and subfossil plant tissues and sediments. The measurement protocol was fine-tuned during the first year of operation and documented in detail in this report. To quantify the long-term reproducibility of the simultaneous measurement of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in cellulose, a 2σ range inferred from repeated measurements of a Quality Assurance standard can be recommended: 0.16 and 0.20‰, for δ13C and δ18O, respectively. An extensive set of samples with known pyrolysis-based δ13C data was analyzed in combustion mode and the paired results were used to assess the necessity of adjustment of the pyrolysis-based δ13C measurements. The variances of the two datasets were not significantly different; the slope (intercept) of the regression was indistinguishable from unity (zero), suggesting that probably owing to the relatively frequent cleaning of the pyrolysis furnace, pyrolysis-based δ13C data neither suffer from a variance bias nor require a specific adjustment.

MoS2 Nanoflakes based Kilohertz Electrochemical Capacitors

AbstractAn ultra‐fast electrochemical capacitor (EC) designed for efficient ripple current smoothing was fabricated using vertically oriented MoS2 (VOM) nanoflakes deposited on freestanding carbonized cellulose (CC) sheets as electrodes. The daily used cellulose tissue sheets were transformed into electrode scaffolds through a rapid pyrolysis process within a preheated furnace, on which VOM nanoflakes were formed in a conventional hydrothermal process. With these ~10 μm thick VOM‐CC electrodes, ultrafast ECs with tunable frequency response and specific capacitance density were fabricated. The ECs with a cell‐level areal capacitance density of 0.8 mF/cm2 at 120 Hz were demonstrated for ripple current filtering from 60 Hz to 60 kHz. At a lower frequency response level, EC cell with a large capacitance density of 4.8 mF/cm2 was also demonstrated. With the facile and easily scaled up process to producing the nanostructured electrode, the miniaturized VOM‐CC based ECs have the potential to substitute the bulky aluminum electrolytic capacitors for current smoothing and pulse power applications.

In situ formation of a covalent organic framework on g-C3N4 encapsulated with nanocellulosic carbon for enhanced photocatalytic N2-to-NH3 conversion

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation has become a promising strategy to realize artificial ammonia synthesis. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, GCN) exhibits significant possibilities for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation, but slow photo-generated electron transfer/separation still restricts its photocatalytic performance. Therefore, we fabricate a novel covalent organic framework (COF) hetero-bridging on g-C3N4 encapsulated with nanocellulose-derived carbon (CF) via a simple two-step thermal condensation method. With COF and CF acting as the co-catalysts, the optimum NH3 yield on GCNc/COF can reach up to 238.1 μmol·g−1·h−1, which is 8.92 times higher than that of the pristine GCN under visible light irradiation. The prominently photocatalytic enhancement of the resultant GCNc/COF is first ascribed to the incorporation of COF (463.6 m2·g−1) with net-like structure for N2 molecules conspicuous activation/adsorption. Moreover, the coupled cellulosic carbon fibers served as a co-catalyst can not only prolong the light-harvest, but also facilitate the migration/seperation of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, this work provides a probable mechanism for the significantly enhancement of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation and threads for the design of highly active catalysts for NH3 photo-generation.

Behaviors and interactions during hydrothermal carbonization of protein, cellulose and lignin

Proteins participation will inevitably reconstruct the conversion route of lignocellulosic components and the formation of N-containing hydrochar during hydrothermal carbonization process. Herein, the behaviors and interaction mechanisms of protein, and typical biomass model chemicals (i.e. cellulose and lignin) were in-depth investigated. Results showed that the interaction of the binary mixture led to a reduction of hydrochar yield, but increased nitrogen concentration in hydrochar. Nitrogenous heterocyclic structure of hydrochar increased due to the interaction of protein with cellulose/lignin via forming Schiff bases and melanoids, wherein the content graphitic and pyridine nitrogen in protein-lignin hydrochar substantially increased from 5.4 % and 2.3 % to 9.7 % and 25.8 %, respectively. The increased ID/IG value from 0.81 to 0.91 in cellulose-protein hydrochar indicated the concentration of fused aromatic rings (≥6) based on Raman analysis. Carbon defects and disordered structure in hydrochar dramatically grew with the occurrence of the Maillard reaction and aldol-condensation of the intermediates. The nitrogenous substance in the aqueous phase increased by 30 %, resulted from protein decomposition accelerated by the hydrolysis of cellulose. This study provides a full understanding towards the transformation process of hydrochar from protein-containing biomass.

Rice Husk Cellulose-Based Adsorbent to Extract Rare Metals: Preparing and Properties.

Adsorption is one of the common stages in the hydrometallurgy of rare metals. Its efficiency is largely determined by the quality of the sorbent used. The purpose of this work was to create an activated sorbent based on rice husk cellulose for the extraction of rhenium from aqueous solutions. Two types of cellulose were obtained by treating rice husk with a 1.5% NaOH solution (alkaline cellulose) and a nitric acid solution in ethyl alcohol (Kürschner and Hoffer cellulose). They were tested by IR, SEM, TA, TPD-MS, and XRD methods. It was found that Kürschner and Hoffer cellulose does not contain lignin and retains structural order to a greater extent. By means of this cellulose carbonization at 600 °C and activation by physical, chemical, and combined methods, a series of sorbents were prepared and studied by different methods. It was determined that the sorbent KHC4-600VA obtained by combined activation of cellulose carbonizate by water vapor at 850 °C, followed by an alkaline treatment, has the best textural characteristics: S-~1200 m2·g-1, V-1.22 cm3·g-1, and R-2.05 nm. KHC4-600VA provides 90% recovery of Re (VII) ions from aqueous solutions. According to the Freundlich model, sorption proceeds favorably on the sorbent's heterogeneous surface.

Facile microwave assisted one-pot solid-state construction of Co-Fe spinel oxide/porous biochar for highly efficient 4-nitrophenol degradation: Effect of chemical blowing and surface vulcanization

Herein, microwave assisted one-pot solid-state construction method was developed for cellulose carbonization and Co-Fe spinel oxide loading to prepare Co-Fe spinel oxide/porous biochar for highly efficient 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) oxidation degradation through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. With just 3 min domestic microwave heating of a solid mixture of cobalt nitrate, iron nitrate, α-cellulose, ammonium bicarbonate and thiourea, Co-Fe spinel and metal sulfides well dispersed, oxygen vacancies and pyrrole N enriched as well as BET increased porous Sx-CF@PC catalytic materials could be prepared with NH4HCO3 aided chemical blowing and thiourea assisted surface vulcanization. The optimal catalyst S1-CF@PC could achieve 99.0 % 4-NP removal in 10 min with rate constant as high as 0.564 min−1. Well dispersed spinel and metal sulfides could activate PMS to generate more SO4− and OH for 4-NP degradation; Meanwhile, oxygen vacancies and pyrrole nitrogen could promote 1O2 based non-free radical 4-NP degradation pathways. This study provided the simplest microwave assisted solid-state metal oxide/porous biochar construction for energetic organic pollutants degradation.

Unraveling the thermodynamics of the CO2 driven precipitation of cellulose in aqueous NaOH

Hypothesis:The incorporation of carbon dioxide into a sodium hydroxide solution containing cellulose may induce the formation of a transient cellulose carbonate intermediate, which readily hydrolyzes to carbonate ion, and this process is responsible for the instantaneous formation of loose cellulose aggregates. Simulations:We employed molecular dynamics simulations to gain insight into the role of carbon dioxide and related ions in the cellulose aggregation process. By performing free energy calculations using OPLS/AA force fields between cellulose chains at different ionic environments, we were able to gain additional information regarding the behavior and thermodynamics of the involved species and propose a potential mechanism for the aggregation of cellulose in these systems. Findings:Our hypothesis of the formation of an intermediate cellulose carbonate in the solution, which strongly favors carbon dioxide absorption and carbonate ion formation, is supported by the simulation results. These results suggest that the aggregation process is driven by entropy upon the introduction of carbonate ions into the system.

Functionalization of cellulose carbon dots with different elements (N, B and S) for mercury ion detection and anti-counterfeit applications

Mercury ion (Hg2+), as one of the most toxic heavy metal ions, accumulates easily in the environment, which can generate potential hazards to the ecosystem and human health. To effectively detect and remove Hg2+, we fabricated four types of carbon dots (CDs) using carboxymethyl nanocellulose as a carbon source doped with different elements using a hydrothermal method. All the CDs exhibited a strong fluorescence emission, excitation-dependent emission and possessed good water dispersibility. Moreover, the four fluorescent CDs were used for Hg2+ recognition in aqueous solution, where the CDs-N exhibited better sensitivity and selectivity for Hg2+ detection, with a low limit of detection of 8.29 × 10−6 mol/L. It was determined that the fluorescence quenching could be ascribed to a photoinduced charge-transfer processes between Hg2+ and the CDs. In addition, the CDs-N were used as a smart invisible ink for anti-counterfeiting, information encryption and decryption. Furthermore, the CDs-N were immersed into a cellulose (CMC)-based hydrogel network to prepare fluorescent hydrogels capable of simultaneously detecting and adsorbing Hg2+. We anticipate that this research will open possibilities for a green method to synthesize fluorescent CDs for metal ion detection and fluorescent ink production.

Reinvestigating the concurring reactions in early-stage cellulose pyrolysis by solution state NMR spectroscopy

Low temperature pre-treatments increase the char yield during cellulose carbonization. Although this effect is mostly understood on a kinetic basis, the formed chemical structures leave room for scrutiny. In ongoing ambitions to enhance the char yield of bioderived precursors, the thereby occurring chemistry was reinvestigated. A set of isothermal heating protocols ranging from 150° to 250°C was applied to man-made Ioncell® cellulose fibers and to Avicel® PH-101 microcrystalline cellulose. The prepared cellulosic samples were examined by solution state NMR using a tetra-n-butyl phosphonium acetate ([P4444][OAc]): DMSO-d6 (1:4 wt%) electrolyte as dissolving medium. Complementary, IR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS) measurements were performed. The NMR spectra evidenced the formation of levoglucosan end capped moieties as being the first and major occurring reaction during low temperature pre-treatments. In contrast to other mechanistic proposals, no signs for carbonyl or alkene functionalities were discernible in the cellulosic material soluble in the NMR electrolyte, even after treatment at 250 °C for several hours. Thermal cross-linking was observed in SEC already at temperatures not known to significantly influence the overall char yield. In the solution state analytics only partial solubility was observed, owing to the formation of a reluctant fraction previously described as “thermostable condensed phase”. This resulted in analytical blind spots and led to discrepancies between NMR results and FTIR spectra in which carbonyl and alkene vibrations were clearly discernible. Those discrepancies might also imply the co-existence of different fractions in the early stages of cellulose pyrolysis.

Role of cellulose response transporter-like protein CRT2 in cellulase induction in Trichoderma reesei.

Induction of cellulase in cellulolytic fungi Trichoderma reesei is strongly activated by cellulosic carbon sources. The transport of cellulosic inducer and the perception of inducing signal is generally considered as the critical process for cellulase induction, that the inducing signal would be perceived by a sugar transporter/transceptor in T. reesei. Several sugar transporters are coexpressed during the induction stage, but which function they serve and how they work collaboratively are still difficult to elucidate. In this study, we found that the constitutive expression of the cellulose response transporter-like protein CRT2 (previously identified as putative lactose permease TRE77517) improves cellulase induction on a cellulose, cellobiose or lactose medium. Functional studies indicate that the membrane-bound CRT2 is not a transporter of cellobiose, lactose or glucose in a yeast system, and it also does not affect cellobiose and lactose utilization in T. reesei. Further study reveals that CRT2 has a slightly similar function to the cellobiose transporter CRT1 in cellulase induction. Overexpression of CRT2 led to upregulation of CRT1 and the key transcription factor XYR1. Moreover, overexpression of CRT2 could partially compensate for the function loss of CRT1 on cellulase induction. Our study uncovers the novel function of CRT2 in cellulase induction collaborated with CRT1 and XYR1, possibly as a signal transductor. These results deepen the understanding of the influence of sugar transporters in cellulase production.