Cellulose Content Research Articles

COBRA-LIKE4 Modulates Cellulose Synthase Velocity and Facilitates Cellulose Deposition in the Secondary Cell Wall.

Cellulose is a critical component of secondary cell walls and woody tissues of plants. Cellulose synthase (CESA) complexes (CSCs) produce cellulose as they move within the plasma membrane, extruding glucan chains into the cell wall that coalesce and crystallize into cellulose fibrils. Here we examine COBRA-LIKE4 (COBL4), a GPI-anchored protein on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane that is required for normal cellulose deposition in secondary cell walls. Characterization of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cobl4 mutant alleles called irregular xylem6, irx6-2 and irx6-3, showed reduced ⍺-cellulose content and lower crystallinity, supporting a role for COBL4 in maintaining cellulose quantity and quality. In live-cell imaging, mNeon Green-tagged CESA7 moved in the plasma membrane at higher speeds in the irx6-2 background compared to wild type. To test conservation of COBL4 function between herbaceous and woody plants, poplar (Populus trichocarpa) COBL4 homologs PtCOBL4a and PtCOBL4b were transformed into, and rescued, the Arabidopsis irx6 mutants. Using the Arabidopsis secondary cell wall-inducible VND7-GR system to study poplar COBL4 dynamics, YFP-tagged PtCOBL4a localized to the plasma membrane in regions of high cellulose deposition in secondary cell wall bands. As predicted for a lipid-linked protein, COBL4 was more mobile in the plane of the plasma membrane than CESA7 or a control plasma membrane marker. Following programmed cell death, COBL4 anchored to the secondary cell wall bands. These data support a role for COBL4 as a modulator of cellulose organization in the secondary cell wall, influencing cellulose production and CSC velocity at the plasma membrane.

Effect of Plant Spacing and Harvesting Stage on Chemical Composition and In-Vitro Digestibility of Desho Grass (Pennisetum Glaucifolium L.) at Midland of Guji, Oromia Region

The experiment was conducted to evaluate appropriate combination harvesting stage and plant spacing on chemical compositions, digestibility and its rumen degradability potentials of Desho grass. Three-by-three randomized complete block design was used to set up the experiment. factorial arrangements in three replications. The experiment employs three harvesting stages (75, 105 and 135 days) and three plant spacing (10, 30 and 50 cm). Prior to planting 100 kg/ha-1 combinations of Nitrogen, phosphate and sulfur fertilizer were applied to all plots. The chemical composition such as CP, DM, TA, NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose and CPY and DMY yield parameters differed considerably (p<0.01). Hemi cellulose concentration, however, was not substantially (p>0.05) impacted. With the 30*105 combination, a higher dry matter yield (31.87 t/ha) was achieved. The treatment combination of 30*105 had the greatest CP content (12.37%). Treatment combinations have an impact on the properties of crude protein and dry matter in-sacco degradability. Thus, it is possible to conclude that, the treatment combination 30 cm*105 days has resulted in optimum yield and nutritive values of Desho grass under the current experiment around Adola. However, there is a need for further studies on different combinations of harvesting stage and plant spacing over years and locations to arrive at dependable conclusions

Combining Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for chemotyping of cell wall composition in Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wizcek)

BackgroundDissection of complex plant cell wall structures demands a sensitive and quantitative method. FTIR is used regularly as a screening method to identify specific linkages in cell walls. However, quantification and assigning spectral bands to particular cell wall components is still a major challenge, specifically in crop species. In this study, we addressed these challenges using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as it is a high throughput, cost-effective and non-destructive approach to understand the plant cell wall composition. This method was validated by analysing different varieties of mungbean which is one of the most important legume crops grown widely in Asia.ResultsUsing standards and extraction of a specific component of cell wall components, we assigned 1050–1060 cm−1 and 1390–1420 cm−1 wavenumbers that can be widely used to quantify cellulose and lignin, respectively, in Arabidopsis, Populus, rice and mungbean. Also, using KBr as a diluent, we established a method that can relatively quantify the cellulose and lignin composition among different tissue types of the above species. We further used this method to quantify cellulose and lignin in field-grown mungbean genotypes. The ATR-FTIR-based study revealed the cellulose content variation ranges from 27.9% to 52.3%, and the lignin content variation ranges from 13.7% to 31.6% in mungbean genotypes.ConclusionMultivariate analysis of FT-IR data revealed differences in total cell wall (600–2000 cm−1), cellulose (1000–1100 cm−1) and lignin (1390–1420 cm−1) among leaf and stem of four plant species. Overall, our data suggested that ATR-FTIR can be used for the relative quantification of lignin and cellulose in different plant species. This method was successfully applied for rapid screening of cell wall composition in mungbean stem, and similarly, it can be used for screening other crops or tree species.

Characterization of Decellularized Plant Leaf as an Emerging Biomaterial Platform.

Decellularized plants have emerged as promising biomaterials for cell culture and tissue engineering applications due to their distinct material characteristics. This study explores the biochemical, mechanical, and structural properties of decellularized leaves that make them useful as biomaterials for cell culture. Five monocot leaf species were decellularized via alkali treatment, resulting in the effective removal of DNA and proteins. The Van Soest method was used to quantitatively evaluate the changes in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content during decellularization. Tensile tests revealed considerable variations in mechanical strength depending on the plant species, the decellularization state, and the direction of applied mechanical force. Decellularized monocot leaves exhibited a notable reduction in mechanical strength and anisotropic properties depending on the leaf orientation. Imaging revealed inherent microgrooves on the epidermis of the monocot leaves. Permeability studies, including water uptake and biomolecule transport through decellularized leaves, confirmed excellent water uptake capability but limited biomolecule transport. Lastly, the plants were enzymatically degradable using typical plant enzymes, which were minimally cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Taken together, the features of decellularized plant leaves characterized in this study suggest ways in which they can be useful in cell culture and tissue engineering applications.

NST3 induces ectopic transdifferentiation, forming secondary walls with diverse patterns and composition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The master transcription factor NAC SECONDARY WALL THICKENING PROMOTING FACTOR3 (NST3), also known as SND1, plays a pivotal role in regulating secondary cell wall (SCW) development in interfascicular and xylary fibers in Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite progress in understanding SCW assembly in xylem vessel-like cells, the mechanisms behind its assembly across different cell types remain unclear. Overexpressing NST3 or its homolog NST1 leads to reduced fertility, posing challenges for studying their impact on secondary wall formation. This study aimed at developing a tightly regulated dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible expression system for NST3 and NST1 to elucidate the structure and assembly of diverse SCWs. Using the DEX-inducible system, we characterized ectopically formed SCWs for their diverse patterns, mesoscale organization, cellulose microfibril orientation, and molecular composition using spinning disk confocal microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and, histochemical staining and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), respectively. Upon DEX treatment, NST3 and NST1 transgenic hypocotyls underwent time-dependent transdifferentiation, progressing from protoxylem-like to metaxylem-like cells. NST3-induced plants exhibited normal growth but had rough secondary wall surfaces with delaminating S2 and S3 layers. Mesoscale examination of induced SCWs in epidermal cells revealed that macrofibril thickness and orientation were comparable to xylem vessels, while wall thickness resembled that of interfascicular fibers. Additionally, induced epidermal cells formed SCWs with altered cellulose and lignin contents. These findings suggest NST3 and/or NST1 induce SCWs with shared characteristics of both xylem and fiber-like cells forming loosely arranged cell wall layers and cellulose organized at multiple angles relative to the cell growth axis and with varied cellulose and lignin abundance. This inducible system opens avenues to explore ectopic SCWs for bioenergy and bioproducts, offering valuable insights into SCW patterning across diverse cell types and developmental stages.

Delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis kinetics of KOH microwave-assisted pretreated banana stem for bioethanol production

Biomass pretreatment is essential to facilitate lignin removal and enhance cellulose concentration for optimal bioethanol production. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the effects of conventional KOH (KP) and Combined KOH microwave-assisted (CKMP) pretreatment on the banana stem (BS) composition, analyzing the kinetics of lignin removal at various temperatures and KOH concentrations for 25 min. Kinetics variables were calculated by fitting experimental data and cellulose was hydrolyzed to produce reducing sugars. The results showed that the highest lignin removal for KP and CKMP were 37.11%, and 40.39%, respectively, with CKMP having the lowest activation energy of approximately 2.688 kJ mol−1. CMCase and FPase activity were 1988.3474 and 1605.4187 U mL−1, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values reported in previous research. The maximum concentration of reducing sugars achieved was 17.69 g L-1, with an enzyme concentration of 50% (v/w), pH 5, and a hydrolysis duration of 25 h. Michaelis constant varied from 0.0037 to 0.0079, and the maximal rate ranged from 1.28 × 10−6 to 2.76 × 10−6 Mol L−1 s−1 when computing the reaction rate using the Michaelis–Menten kinetics model.

The effect of exogenous gibberellin and its synthesis inhibitor treatments for morphological and physiological characteristics of Tartary buckwheat

Gibberellin (GA3) is an important plant hormone involved in many physiological and developmental processes in plants. However, the physiological mechanism of GA3 on the regulation yield and grain shell thickness of Tartary buckwheat is still unclear. In this study, the thick-shelled cultivar “Jinqiao 2” and thin-shelled cultivar “Miku 18” were used to study the effects of different concentrations (0, 50, and 100 mg L−1) of exogenous GA3 and chlorocholine chloride (CCC, GA3 synthesis inhibitor) on the cellulose content, amylase, and sucrose synthase (SS) activity in grain shell and the yield of Tartary buckwheat. The application of exogenous GA3 can improve the cellulose content and the activity of amylase and SS in the grain shell of the two Tartary buckwheat varieties. It can also increase the main stem node number, main stem branch number, grains per plant, and yield. Compared with the control treatment (CK, 0 mg L−1), the 100 mg/L exogenous GA3 treatment increased the number of grains per plant, grain weight per plant, 1000-grain weight, and yield of Jinqiao 2 by 20.1%, 41.9%, 13%, and 34.7%, respectively. These items of Miku 18 were increased by 26%, 15.2%, 10.2%, and 23.8%. The application of CCC reduced the activity of amylase and SS and cellulose content in grain shell. In addition, it decreased the main stem node number, main stem branch number, grains per plant, and yield of Tartary buckwheat. In summary, exogenous GA3 treatment not only improved the yield of Tartary buckwheat but also increased the thickness of grain shell by enhancing the activity of amylase and SS and promoting the synthesis and accumulation of cellulose. The results can provide theoretical references for clarifying the physiological mechanism of the difference in shell thickness between Tartary buckwheat varieties.

Статистически анализ на продуктивни, морфологични и качествени показатели при производство на фураж от бобови ливадни треви

In the experimental field of the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and AgricultureTroyan during the period 2020-2022, the following meadow legume crops were studied: bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), hybrid clover (Trifolium hibridum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The purpose of the present research is to make a statistical analysis based on average data on yield, morphological features and quality, and determine dependencies between them. High correlations were found between plant height and crude fiber content (r = 0.88); crude fiber and the relative proportion of legumes in the grass stand (r = 0.77); acid detergent fibers and cellulose content (r = 0.92). These results make it possible to derive regression dependencies between them, which are represented by linear equations and coefficients of determination.

Genetic Evidence of SpGH9A3 in Leaf Morphology Variation of Spathiphyllum 'Mojo'.

Leaves play a crucial role as ornamental organs in Spathiphyllum, exhibiting distinct differences across various Spathiphyllum varieties. Leaf development is intricately linked to processes of cell proliferation and expansion, with cell morphology often regulated by plant cell walls, primarily composed of cellulose. Alterations in cellulose content can impact cell morphology, subsequently influencing the overall shape of plant organs. Although cellulases have been shown to affect cellulose levels in plant cells, genetic evidence linking them to the regulation of leaf shape remains limited. This study took the leaves of Spathiphyllum 'Mojo' and its somatic variants as the research objects. We screened four cellulase gene family members from the transcriptome and then measured the leaf cellulose content, cellulase activity, and expression levels of cellulase-related genes. Correlation analysis pinpointed the gene SpGH9A3 as closely associated with leaf shape variations in the mutant. Green fluorescent fusion protein assays revealed that the SpGH9A3 protein was localized to the cell membrane. Notably, the expression of the SpGH9A3 gene in mutant leaves peaked during the early spread stage, resulting in smaller overall leaf size and reduced cellulose content upon overexpression in Arabidopsis.

Alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment of bamboo residues and its influence on physiochemical properties and enzymatic digestibility for bioethanol production

Bamboo is a perennial rapid-growing plant that is given preference for renewable biosources for biofuels and bio-based chemical conversion. Bamboos are rich in cellulose and have highly recalcitrant biomass due to high lignin. Bamboo is abundantly available in Northeastern India and can be utilized as a feedstock biofuels. Here, we evaluated the pretreatment of bamboo residues Dendrocalamus strictus with different concentrations of alkali, hydrogen peroxide, and alkaline hydrogen peroxide and its influence on biomass digestibility for enhancement of sugar recovery with Celic C cellulase enzyme blend. Enzymatic hydrolysis data indicated untreated raw biomass showed a digestibility of 40% after 48 h of incubation. The biomass pretreated with alkali showed a maximum digestibility of 61% obtained from 10% loaded with 0.5% w/v NaOH. Pretreatment of the bamboo with H2O2 shows a maximum digestibility of 75% from biomass loaded with 1% w/v of H2O2. Combinational pretreatment of alkaline hydrogen peroxide showed a maximum efficiency of biomass digestibility of 83% attained from biomass loaded with 1% w/v NaOH-H2O2. Crystallinity index (CrI) analysis showed that CrI increased from 64% to 70.75% in pretreated biomass. FTIR and SEM analysis show changes in functional groups, morphology, and surface of biomass in pretreated biomass. Compositional analysis shows that 68% of lignin removal is obtained from alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment. Cellulose content increased from 52% to 65%, and hemicellulose decreased from 18.6% to 8.6%. Results indicated that the potential possibility of bamboo waste biomass as feedstock for biorefinery products and alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment methods is an efficient strategy for sugar recovery for bioethanol production.

Effect of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Polyvinyl Alcohol on the Dispersibility and Chemical Functional Group of Nonwoven Fabrics Composed of Recycled Carbon Fibers.

In this study, recycled carbon fibers (rCFs) recovered from waste carbon composites were used to manufacture wet-laid nonwoven fabrics. The aim was to improve dispersibility by investigating the changes in the dispersibility of carbon fibers (CFs) based on the content of the dispersant carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and the binder polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and the length and basis weight of the CFs. In addition, the chemical property changes and oxygen functional group mechanisms based on the content of the CMC dispersant and PVA binder were investigated. The nonwoven fabrics made with desized CFs exhibited significantly improved dispersibility. For nonwoven fabrics produced with a fixed binder PVA content of 10%, optimal dispersibility was achieved at a dispersant CMC concentration of 0.4%. When the dispersant CMC concentration was fixed at 0.4% and the binder PVA content at 10%, the best dispersibility was observed at a CF length of 3 mm, while the maximum tensile strength was achieved at a fiber length of 6 mm. Dispersibility remained almost consistent across different basis weights. As the dispersant CMC concentration increased from 0.2% to 0.6%, the oxygen functional groups, such as carbonyl group (C=O), lactone group (O=C-O), and natrium hydroxide (NaOH), also increased. However, hydroxyl group (C-O) decreased. Moreover, the contact angle decreased, while the surface free energy increased. On the other hand, when the dispersant CMC concentration was fixed at 0.4%, the optimal binder PVA content was found to be 3%. As the binder PVA content increased from 0% to 10%, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the CMC dispersant and the PVA binder led to an increase in C=O and O=C-O bonds, while C-O and NaOH decreased. As the amount of oxygen increased, the contact angle decreased and the surface free energy increased.

Assessing the Impact of Drought Stress on Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Fibers.

Drought can significantly impact fiber crop cultivation due to the plants' specific water requirements and their extended vegetative period. The purpose of the research was to examine how drought stress affects the quality and chemical composition of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibers. A three-year pot experiment was conducted in a plant growth facility, using controlled drought stress for hemp plants. Soil moisture levels were maintained at three levels, where 45% field water capacity was the control and 35% and 25% FWC were drought. A comprehensive suite of fiber quality characterization techniques, including linear density measurement, tenacity assessment, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Wide-Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD), was employed to evaluate the impact of drought stress on fiber properties. The chemical composition of hemp fibers was thoroughly analyzed, quantifying the content of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin. The findings indicate that drought conditions significantly influence linear density, wax and fat content, as well as the crystallinity of the fibers.

Extrusion can ameliorate negative effects of molecular structures of brewer's spent grain on energy contents and amino acid digestibility in growing pigs.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of extrusion on the chemical compositions, surface structure, and molecular structure of brewer's spent grain (BSG), as well as to determine the digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy, and amino acid (AA) digestibility of extruded BSG when fed to growing pigs. Firstly, we determined the changes in chemical compositions and molecular structure of both non-extruded and extruded BSG. In Exp. 1, eighteen growing pigs were fed three different diets including one corn-soybean meal basal diet and two experimental diets containing 20% BSG with or without extrusion. Feces and urine were collected to determine the ATTD of nutrients and energy, DE, and ME of extruded or non-extruded BSG. In Exp. 2, eighteen growing pigs were fed three different diets including 30% BSG with or without extrusion, and an N-free diet. Ileal digesta was collected through the slaughter method to determine the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA of extruded or non-extruded BSG. The results showed that extrusion reduced the neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose contents in BSG, and increased the Arg, Asp, Glu, Ser, Tyr, total indispensable AA and total AA contents of BSG, altered the surface structure of BSG, increased the peak absorbance in amide I and amide II height, amide II and amide (I+II) area, α-helix height, decreased β-sheet height, and weakened band intensities in cellulosic compounds (CELC) area, structural carbohydrates (SCHO) area, carbohydrates area (CHO) peak 2 and 3 height, the area ratio of CELC: CHO and CELC: SCHO. Moreover, DE and ME values and ATTD of energy, dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, cellulose and hemicellulose increased (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed extruded BSG diets. The AID and SID of Arg, His, Lys, Val and Gly increased, whereas the AID and SID of Ile and Leu decreased when pigs were fed extrusion diets (P < 0.05). Our study found that the ATTD of nutrients and AA digestibility in pigs were positively correlated with the molecular structure of proteins, and negatively correlated with the molecular structure of carbohydrates (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that extrusion had the potential to improve the nutrient digestibility of BSG by altering its chemical compositions, surface structure, and molecular structure.

MdWRKY31-MdNAC7 regulatory network: orchestrating fruit softening by modulating cell wall-modifying enzyme MdXTH2 in response to ethylene signalling.

Softening in fruit adversely impacts their edible quality and commercial value, leading to substantial economic losses during fruit ripening, long-term storage, long-distance transportation, and marketing. As the apple fruit demonstrates climacteric respiration, its firmness decreases with increasing ethylene release rate during fruit ripening and postharvest storage. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ethylene-mediated regulation of fruit softening in apple remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified a WRKY transcription factor (TF) MdWRKY31, which is repressed by ethylene treatment. Using transgenic approaches, we found that overexpression of MdWRKY31 delays softening by negatively regulating xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases 2 (MdXTH2) expression. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA), and dual-luciferase assays further suggested that MdWRKY31 directly binds to the MdXTH2 promoter via a W-box element and represses its transcription. Transient overexpression of ethylene-induced MdNAC7, a NAC TF, in apple fruit promoted softening by decreasing cellulose content and increasing water-soluble pectin content in fruit. MdNAC7 interacted with MdWRKY31 to form a protein complex, and their interaction decreased the transcriptional repression of MdWRKY31 on MdXTH2. Furthermore, MdNAC7 does not directly regulate MdXTH2 expression, but the protein complex formed with MdWRKY31 hinders MdWRKY31 from binding to the promoter of MdXTH2. Our findings underscore the significance of the regulatory complex NAC7-WRKY31 in ethylene-responsive signalling, connecting the ethylene signal to XTH2 expression to promote fruit softening. This sheds light on the intricate mechanisms governing apple fruit firmness and opens avenues for enhancing fruit quality and reducing economic losses associated with softening.

Lanthanum hydroxide@cellulose membranes with tunable pore sizes for selective removal of dyes with the same charges

Adsorptive membranes for the efficient separation of dyes with the same charges are quite desirable. Herein, a novel membrane of lanthanum hydroxide/cellulose hydrogel coated filter paper (LC) was prepared through a facile strategy of dip-coating followed by freeze-shaping. With the aid of cellulose gel, the generated La(OH)3 achieved fine dispersion. In addition, the pore size of LC membrane could be regulated by altering the cellulose concentration or the lanthanum chloride dosage, which was crucial for its water flux. In particular, the obtained membrane possessed a high water flux (128.4 L m−2 h−1) and a high dye rejection (97.2 %) for anionic Congo red (CR) only driven by the gravity, which outperformed many previously reported membranes. More intriguingly, its dye rejection for anionic methyl orange (MO) was only 0.9 %, exhibiting high selectivity for dyes with the same charges. Single-solute adsorption experiments indicated that the CR adsorption on the membrane was best fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and it followed the Langmuir monolayer adsorption mechanism.

Lignocellulose sustainable composites from agro-waste Asparagus bean stem fiber for polymer casting applications: Effect of fiber treatment

In the past decades, lignocellulose fibers have attracted significant attention due to their low density, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability. Consequently, researchers are intensifying their efforts to explore the potential of lignocellulosic fibers as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibers in polymer composites. Among various natural fibers identified as potential reinforcements, agro-waste from the Asparagus Bean stem (ABS) which has been discarded as landfill after harvest has emerged as a promising source of lignocellulose fibers for promoting sustainability. This study investigates the reinforcement suitability of ABSF in polymer matrices. A water-retting process was used for extraction, followed by treatment with a 5 % alkali solution. Cellulose content was enhanced to 65 wt%, and fiber density increased to 1.13 g/cm3 after chemical treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated improved thermal stability of the treated fibers up to 247 °C. Morphological analysis showed increased surface roughness and impurity removal. To evaluate the reinforcing effect of the chemical treatment, epoxy composites with 10 wt% reinforcement were developed. The mechanical properties of these composites improved significantly, with more than 1.1 times when used alkali-treated ABSF as reinforcement. Flexural properties were substantially enhanced, with flexural strength increasing from 90.53 MPa to 122.71 MPa and flexural modulus from 2.41 GPa to 2.95 GPa due to better fiber-matrix interaction and removal of weak, amorphous constituents. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate that ABSF is a viable alternative raw material for composite reinforcement, suitable for developing lightweight structural applications.

Production and functionalization strategies for superior polyhydroxybutyrate blend performance

This study investigates the effects of blending poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), polylactic acid (PLA), lignin, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the properties of the resulting composite materials. Using a melt blending method, the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results reveal that blending PHB with MCC, PLA, lignin, and PEG significantly enhances the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and biodegradability of the composites compared to pure PHB. Specifically, the tensile strength of PHB-PLA blends increased by up to 47.77 MPa, compared to 27.16 MPa for pure PHB. The blend with 50 % cellulose content showed the highest tensile strength of 54.91 MPa. TGA results show that the PHB-MCC and PHB-lignin blends exhibit improved thermal stability, with onset degradation temperatures rising to 294.8 °C, compared to 275 °C for pure PHB. Moreover, the PHB-lignin blend demonstrated a gradual weight loss starting at 200 °C and continuing until about 350 °C. SEM images of the blends indicate a uniform microstructure, contributing to the improved mechanical properties. The PHB-PEG blend demonstrated an elongation at break of 4.34 %, significantly higher than the 2.15 % for pure PHB, highlighting its suitability for applications requiring pliable materials. The biodegradability tests showed that PHB-PLA blends maintained consistent degradation rates, making them advantageous for applications needing controlled biodegradability. These findings suggest that blending PHB with MCC, PLA, lignin, and PEG can produce materials with enhanced properties suitable for applications in packaging, biomedical devices, and other areas where both performance and sustainability are essential.

Sintesa dan Karakteristik Karbon Aktif dari Batang Pisang Kepok (Musa acuminata) Sebagai Adsorben pada Penjernihan Minyak Goreng Bekas

Kepok banana stems have a cellulose content of 58.6466%. The cellulose content means that Kepok banana stems can be used as a basic ingredient for making active carbon. Activated carbon is a material that has high porosity and can be used for absorption which can remove impurities liquid or gas. Process for making activated carbon is cutting banana stems into small pieces and washed, then drying with sun during 7 days. After that, carbonized at 300℃ for 1 hour. Carbonizasition product were ground and sieved with a 100 mesh sieve and activated with NaOH 0.5; 0.75; 1; 1.25 and 1.5 N for 12; 18; 24; 30; and 36 hours. Then, drying in oven at temperature of 100℃ until constant weight. The best activated carbon is activator concentration of 1.5 N NaOH for 12 hours with a water content of 7.8496%, ash content of 9.7186%, and bound carbon content of 65.3479%. SEM test results of activated carbon from banana stems before application have a porous morphological structure and after application the active carbon pores are seen to be closed. Percentage reduction FFA reach 94.8057% and the reduction peroxide reach 86.8978%.

Characterisation of alkali-treated novel cellulosic fibres derived from Dombeya Buettneri plant as a potential reinforcement for polymer composites

ABSTRACT The present study evaluates the influence of alkali treatment using 2, 4, and 8 wt.% sodium hydroxide concentration solutions on novel cellulosic fibres manually extracted from the bark of dombeya buettneri plant (DBF). Alkali-treated fibres were characterised through physical and mechanical properties determination, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, quantitative chemical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative chemical analysis revealed a significant increment in cellulose content, reaching 67 ± 1.7% in DBF treated with 4 wt.% NaOH solution, accompanied by substantial reductions in lignin and hemicelluloses as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. XRD analysis showed an improved crystallinity index of 80% and crystallite size of 2.64 nm for 4 wt.% alkali-treated DBF. Additionally, 4 wt.% alkali-treated fibres yielded peak values of breaking force (40 N) and breaking tenacity (181 cN/Tex). SEM analysis confirmed enhanced surface roughness post-treatment, an indication of enhanced fibre/matrix interlocking during composite fabrication, whereas TGA analysis reported improved thermal stability post-treatment. EDX analysis confirmed that the C/O ratio is proportional to alkali solution concentration, indicating effective removal of non-cellulosic contents. In conclusion, treating DBF with 4 wt.% NaOH concentration improves their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, suggesting their potential for polymer composite applications.

Combined effects of organic solvent and ultrasonic pretreatments on cellulose fiber extraction from hemp

Extracting pure cellulose fibers from hemp bast for potential textile industry applications requires the removal of non-cellulosic gummy materials. However, traditional degumming methods are largely limited because of the long procedure time, high energy consumption, heavy environmental pollution and insufficient efficiency. Organic solvents have been proved to be an innovative method for lignocellulose extraction. Herein, ethylene glycol solvent combined ultrasonic pretreatment was explored to degum hemp fibers without any further treatment. The purified hemp fibers were systematically characterized using analytical test techniques. Results revealed that the combined degumming could effectively remove non-cellulosic components without damaging the cellulose, and reducing the reaction temperature by 10 ℃ for reaction process. Comparing to the traditional method, the fibers by ultrasonic pretreatment-ethylene glycol process had superior average yield of 68.32 %, higher thermal stability (maximum degradation temperature reached 395 ℃), higher breaking tenacity of 6.13 cN/dtex, higher crystallinity of 78 % and the cellulose content of over 91 %. Moreover, the degumming time and chemical usage were reduced to 40 % and 51.8 %, respectively. Besides, the changes of fibers chemical structure were further investigated and verified by FTIR, EDS, and 13C NMR analysis. Featured with less chemical and energy consumption, eco-friendly and short time-consuming, this treatment has a broad application scope for hemp cellulose fiber extraction.