Increase In Cellulose Content Research Articles

Enhancement in sugar extraction from Pistia stratiotes through statistical optimization of alkaline pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis

In lignocellulosic biomass, reducing structural recalcitrance and enhancing hydrolysis efficiency are crucial factors for increasing fermentable sugars and the production of valuable products. This biomass substrate comprises lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. In this study, response surface methodology was employed to optimise alkaline pre-treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, aiming to enhance the saccharification of Pistia stratiotes. The NaOH concentration during pre-treatment significantly influenced the delignification process, resulting in increased cellulose content. The highest cellulose content was achieved with 2.47% NaOH at 120 °C for 60 min, leading to enhanced cell porosity and facilitating greater enzyme saccharification accessibility. Under these optimized conditions, the sample exhibited a 51.66% cellulose content. The physicochemical characteristics of the cellulose obtained after pre-treatment were analysed using SEM, FTIR, and TGA. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose with a commercially available cellulase enzyme, 31.06 g/L of reduced sugar was produced after 72 h. This study demonstrates that alkaline pre-treatment of Pistia stratiotes significantly increased its cellulose content, leading to a higher sugar yield during enzymatic hydrolysis.

Enhancement in sugar extraction from Pistia stratiotes through statistical optimization of alkaline pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis

In lignocellulosic biomass, reducing structural recalcitrance and enhancing hydrolysis efficiency are crucial factors for increasing fermentable sugars and the production of valuable products. This biomass substrate comprises lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. In this study, response surface methodology was employed to optimise alkaline pre-treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, aiming to enhance the saccharification of Pistia stratiotes. The NaOH concentration during pre-treatment significantly influenced the delignification process, resulting in increased cellulose content. The highest cellulose content was achieved with 2.47% NaOH at 120 °C for 60 min, leading to enhanced cell porosity and facilitating greater enzyme saccharification accessibility. Under these optimized conditions, the sample exhibited a 51.66% cellulose content. The physicochemical characteristics of the cellulose obtained after pre-treatment were analysed using SEM, FTIR, and TGA. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose with a commercially available cellulase enzyme, 31.06 g/L of reduced sugar was produced after 72 h. This study demonstrates that alkaline pre-treatment of Pistia stratiotes significantly increased its cellulose content, leading to a higher sugar yield during enzymatic hydrolysis.

Preparation and Characterization of bamboo based nanocellulose by ball milling and used as a filler for preparation of Nanocomposite

In this research, bamboo-based nanocellulose was prepared and characterized using high-speed ball milling to reduce initial bamboo powder particle size for potential use in nanocomposites. FTIR analysis revealed structural modifications, including increased cellulose content and decreased lignin content post-treatment. XRD analysis indicated a shift from cellulose I to cellulose II, suggesting altered crystallinity and hydrogen-bonding networks. SEM analysis revealed distinct morphological changes between untreated and NaOH-treated bamboo fibers, with the latter exhibiting surface modifications indicative of effective treatment. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images demonstrated a reduction in particle size to approximately 80 nm, with reduced aggregation and individualized nanofibrils. Tensile tests of bamboo nanoparticle-epoxy biocomposites with varying weight percentages (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) of nanoparticles showed enhanced tensile strength up to 1.5% loading (83.92±1.74 MPa), but a decrease at 2% loading (70.24±1.80 MPa), indicating increased strain-to-failure. SEM and TEM images illustrated a homogeneous distribution at 1.5 wt.%, but increased agglomeration at higher contents, impacting microstructure. This study underscores bamboo-derived nanocellulose's potential for tailored applications and improved mechanical properties in nanocomposites, highlighting the critical role of filler content in material performance and microstructure.

Hydrothermal enzyme pretreatment on structure and properties of apple branches

Abstract Pretreatment serves as an important step in maximizing the efficient utilization of woody biomass feedstock. This study focused on enhancing the component and structural properties of apple wood to optimize the utilization of apple wood resources effectively. This study presents the optimization of, the apple wood pretreatment system, combining bioenzyme and hydrothermal treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different bioenzyme pretreatment conditions on the components and structural properties of apple wood extract and to analyze the feasibility of enzyme solution reuse. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed an increase in cellulose content in the wood flour following enzyme treatment. Concurrently, changes in characteristic peaks indicated an increased hemicellulose content and a reduction in lignin content after the pretreatment, correlating with fraction analysis results. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that the dense structure of the fiber surface was disrupted after treatment. Notably, the results indicated that the recovered biocomposite enzymes exhibited excellent activity, suggesting their potential for reuse.

Enhancing biogas production through photocatalytic pretreatment of rice straw co-digested with cow dung and food waste using a novel g-C3N4/SiO2/bentonite catalyst

This study investigates the application of a novel composite photocatalyst, g-C3N4/SiO2/ Bentonite, for rice straw pretreatment, aiming to enhance biogas production in anaerobic digestion. The photocatalytic pretreatment disrupts rice straw's lignin and hemicellulose structures, reducing silica content for improved microbial degradation. Five 2 L anaerobic digesters were employed with rice straw as the substrate and co-digestion materials, including cow dung and food waste. Rice straw treated with the g-C3N4/7.5% SiO2/5% Bentonite catalyst exhibited a remarkable 37% increase in methane yield compared to untreated rice straw. This photocatalytic process led to a 31% increase in cellulose content and a 30% reduction in lignin after 6 hours of pretreatment. Simultaneously, silica content in the rice straw decreased to 6.4% after 6 hours, resulting in a 48% increase in the carbon proportion. These findings underscore the potential of integrated photocatalysts for significantly enhancing biogas production efficiency through the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass.

Characterization of novel natural cellulose fiber from Ficus macrocarpa bark for lightweight structural composite application and its effect on chemical treatment

This study investigates Ficus Macrocarpa tree bark fibers (FMB) as a sustainable alternative reinforcement for polymer composites. The Industrial Revolution marked the evolution of polymer composites with synthetic material reinforcement, leading to environmental concerns. Natural fibers have recently gained prominence as efficient alternatives for polymer composites. Despite numerous natural fibers being considered, ensuring a sustainable raw material source remains crucial. In this study, fibers were extracted from FMB and subjected to alkali treatment to evaluate their impact on physical, chemical, and thermal properties. Initially, the extracted fibers measured 253.80 ± 15 μm in diameter, reduced to 223.27 ± 12 μm post-alkali treatment. Chemical analysis showed an increase in cellulose content to 59.7 wt%, a 23.34 % improvement over untreated fibers (48.4 wt%). The crystalline index for untreated and treated fibers measured 80.20 % and 84.75 %, respectively, with no noticeable changes in the cellulose phase. Additionally, the crystalline size increased to 3.21 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated enhanced stability of treated fibers up to 378.87 °C, while the kinetic activation energy remained constant at 64.76 kJ/mol for both the treated and the untreated fibers. The alkali treatment further improved surface roughness to 39.26, confirmed by scanning electron microscopic images. These findings highlight the potential of cellulose fibers from Ficus Macrocarpa bark as a sustainable and environmentally friendly replacement for synthetic fibers in polymer composites. The enhanced physical properties and excellent thermal stability make them a promising choice for eco-conscious materials.

Lignocellulosic-Based/High Density Polyethylene Composites: A Comprehensive Study on Fiber Characteristics and Performance Evaluation

Lignocellulosic-based polymer composites have gained significant interest due to their ‘’green’’ character as a response to environmental concerns. A diverse array of lignocellulosic fibers is utilized, depending on fiber dimensions, chemical composition, moisture content, and the fiber–matrix interface. The aim of this study is to establish an alternative standardized methodology, aimed at comparatively estimating the performance of polymer composites through the examination of individual plant fibers. The fibers studied are ramie, hemp, flax, and kenaf, and HDPE-based corresponding composites were analyzed for their performance across various fiber-content levels (10, 20, and 30 wt.%). It was found that kenaf showcases the largest average fiber diameter, succeeded by hemp, ramie, and flax. Additionally, ramie and kenaf exhibit elevated levels of crystallinity, suggesting increased cellulose content, with kenaf having the lowest crystallinity index among the fibers compared. Based on Thermogravimetric analysis, ramie displays the lowest moisture content among the examined fibers, followed by hemp, flax, and ultimately kenaf, which is recorded to have the highest moisture content, while, similarly, ramie exhibits the lowest mass loss at the processing temperature of the corresponding composites. Composites containing fibers with smaller diameters and higher crystallinity indexes and lower moisture absorptions, such as ramie and hemp, demonstrate superior thermal stability and exhibit increased Young’s modulus values in their respective composites. However, poor interfacial adhesion affects mechanical performance across all composites. Understanding fiber morphology, inner structure, and thermal stability is important for developing new composite materials and optimizing their selection for various applications.

Cellulosic rich biomass production with optimized process parameters by using glycerol pretreatment for biofuels applications

In this work, we conduct acidified aqueous glycerol pre-treatment (AAG) on rice husks (RH) and utilize the response surface methodology (RSM) to assess the impact of pre-treatment parameters. The primary objective of this research is to optimize the parameters to maximize the cellulose content within RH. The parameters under consideration encompassed temperature (ranging from 80 to 110 °C), retention time (spanning 15 to 45 min), and biomass loading (varying from 5 to 10 wt. %). To achieve this optimization, we perform the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) within the framework of RSM. Additionally, we scrutinize the interactive effects of these parameters on cellulose content. Our findings unveiled a remarkable increase in cellulose content, escalating from 40 % in untreated RH to an impressive 75 % in pre-treated RH under the optimized conditions of 110 °C for 45 min with a 5.0 wt. % biomass loading. To further evaluate the effectiveness of the pre-treatment process, we conduct scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, shedding light on alterations in surface morphology and crystallinity of RH. This investigation yields valuable insights, presenting novel opportunities for the efficient conversion of readily available rice husks into high-value products, such as biofuels and composites.

Moroccan heated clay-based geopolymer reinforced with date palm cellulose: microstructure characterization and mechanical/physical properties

Abstract The objective of this research was to study the cellulose addition effect on the geopolymerization of heated clay. The clay, composed of illite, plagioclase and kaolinite, was heated at 700°C for 2 h and mixed with cellulose (up to 10 mass%). The mixtures were NaOH-activated, and shaped samples were aged at 83°C for 30 days. The cured samples were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the cellulose addition on the mechanical/physical properties was also evaluated. The results showed that zeolite ZK-14, hydrosodalite, sodium carbonate and a geopolymer composed of poly(sialate) units were formed in all cured samples. The relative amounts of zeolite and metakaolin evolved antagonistically, whereas that of illite slightly decreased with increasing cellulose content. Metakaolin and illite were involved in the geopolymerization process. Cellulose addition led to the improvement of the flexural strength of the samples and to porosity reduction. By contrast, water absorption was increased. The positive effect of cellulose on sample performance is explained on the basis of hydrogen bonding between the functional moieties of cellulose and the active sites of sample constituents, namely zeolites, metakaolin, illite and the geopolymer. As a filler, zeolite probably contributed to sample strengthening, and the detrimental impact of Na-carbonate was insignificant. Based on the results obtained, the composites could be used as binders for brick manufacturing or as lightweight mortars.

Influence of optimal alkali treated Areca catechu L. peduncle fiber for light weight polymer composites applications

AbstractThe chemical, physico‐mechanical, morphological, and thermal characteristics of alkali treated natural cellulosic sustainable eco‐friendly fiber from peduncle of Areca Catechu tree were investigated. Areca Catechu fruit peduncle fiber (ACFPF) treated with 5% (w/v) NaOH solution for 60 min is found as optimally alkali treated ACFPF (OAACFPF) witnessed an increase in cellulose content by 17%. Single fiber tensile test perceived that OAACFPF enhanced tensile strength by 12.9% and x‐ray diffraction analysis depicts crystallinity index of OAACFPF improved by 14.2% compared with ACFPF. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis endorsed partial removal of amorphous contents from fibers due to alkali treatment. In addition, alkali treatment has enhanced thermal stability of OAACFPF from 226°C to 235°C verified through Thermogravimetric analysis. Likewise, Differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed improvement in thermal degradation temperature of OAACFPF after alkali treatment. Moreover, the rougher surface of OAACFPF confirmed through scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy is due to partial removal of amorphous contents thus ensuing in good interfacial bonding characteristics with the matrix during reinforcement for bio‐composite fabrication. The above findings validated OAACFPF as a worthy substitute to harmful synthetic fibers for development of eco‐friendly and sustainable bio‐composites.

Delignifikacija kukuruznog oklaska pomoću peroksidnog predtretmana potpomognutog mikrotalasima

Lignocellulosic biomass comprises the crop residues, which remain in large quantities from various stages of crop processing. Its main constituents, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, are interlinked by hydrogen and covalent bonds and form a robust and intricate matrix making it resistant to enzymatic degradation. Pretreatment is crucial in lignocellulosic biomass processing, aiming to remove lignin and enhance enzyme access to polysaccharides. This study examines how microwave-assisted peroxide pretreatment affects the delignification of corncobs, aiming to enhance the efficiency of utilizing this agricultural residue in fermentation processes. Taguchi orthogonal array was used to optimize pretreatment conditions and assess the effects of individual parameters (temperature, H 2 O 2 dose, and pretreatment time) on delignification efficiency. The results showed the significant influence of pretreatment conditions on lignin removal from corncobs, with the highest delignification achieved at an H 2 O 2 dose of 500 mg/g, temperature of 100 °C, and pretreatment time of 2 minutes. H 2 O 2 dose had the most substantial impact on the delignification, followed by temperature and pretreatment time. The observed 81.6% delignification and 61.9% increase in cellulose content are pivotal for enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. This improvement suggests enhanced enzyme availability during hydrolysis and reversible binding to polysaccharide active sites, potentially leading to higher sugar yields.

Protein profile analysis of tension wood development in response to artificial bending and gravitational stimuli in Betula platyphylla

Betula platyphylla Suk (birch) is an excellent short-term hardwood species with growth and wood characteristics well suited to wood industries. To investigate the molecular mechanism of wood development in birch, a tension wood (TW) induced system was used to explore the regulatory mechanism at the protein level and identify the key proteins involved in xylem development in birch. The results of dyeing with Safranin O-Fast Green indicated that the cellulose content of TW was significantly higher than that of opposite wood (OW) or normal wood (NW), and the lignin content in TW was significantly lower than that in OW and NW after artificial bending of birch stems. Protein profile analysis of TW, NW and OW by iTRAQ revealed that there were 639 and 460 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between TW/OW and TW/NW, respectively. The DEPs were mainly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, phenylpropanoid and pyruvate metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), fructose and mannose metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, fatty acid biosynthesis, photosynthesis proteins and other pathways. The proteins in the citrate cycle were upregulated. The expression levels of PGI, PGM and FRK proteins related to cellulose synthesis increased and the expression levels of PAL, 4CL and COMT related to lignin synthesis decreased, leading to an increase in cellulose content and decreased lignin levels in TW. PPI analysis revealed that key DEPs interact with each other, indicating that these proteins form complexes to implement this function, which may provide important insights for wood formation at the molecular level.

Tahapan Proses Produksi Dan Karakterisasi Bioplastik Dari Limbah Tongkol Jagung

Plastic is the dominant packaging used by the public, so it has the potential to damage the environment. It is necessary to synthesize raw materials for making plastics that are degraded by microorganisms, namely bioplastics. Bioplastics are packaging materials that are synthesized from natural raw materials so that they can be degraded in the environment. The raw material used is corncob because it is abundant and the benefits are not maximized. Research is needed to examine the stages of the production process and the characterization of bioplastics from corncob waste. The purpose of this study was to examine the stages of the production process and the characterization of bioplastics from corncob waste. This study used a laboratory experimental method with descriptive analysis. The production of bioplastics consists of the stages of making cellulose, cellulose acetate, and bioplastics using the solution casting method. The stages of cellulose isolation include hydrolysis, delignification, pulping, and bleaching, which showed an increase in cellulose content from 32.14% to 79.36%. Cellulose is acetylated to become cellulose acetate and has an acetyl content of 11.70 ± 0.40% with a yield of 121.16 ± 0.98%. The production of bioplastics uses a composition of cellulose acetate and chitosan at 50%:50% (w/w) successively. The resulting bioplastic has a thickness of 0.345 ± 0.024 mm, a density of 0.83 ± 0.03 g/cm3, a moisture content of 13.13%, a biodegradation value of 95.19%, a water resistance of 205.57%, and is transparent. The mechanical properties of bioplastics include a tensile strength of 22.3 N/m, an elongation of 21.11%, and a modulus of elasticity of 0.307 Mpa.

Anaerobic digestion of an invasive aquatic plant Ludwigia grandiflora by thermal hydrolysis pretreatment: Correlations between methane kinetics and substrate composition

Ludwigia grandiflora, an emerging aquatic weed, has become a global waterway invader, causing various environmental issues. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignocellulosic biomass is a cost-effective treatment method. To enhance methane yield, pretreatment is required to break the rigid lignocellulose structure, which hampers the biodegradability of the biomass. Therefore, in this study, we examined the impact of thermal hydrolysis (TH) pretreatment on L. grandiflora through batch AD tests at temperatures ranging from 150 to 210 °C, with durations of 10 and 30 mins. At 180 °C for 30 mins (severity factor of 3.8), methane yield increased significantly by 142.7 % compared to the untreated condition. Significant methane production differences were observed at temperatures equal to or above 165 °C. Longer retention times, such as 30 mins, were crucial for enhancing methane yield. Additionally, the Modified Gompertz model was a good fit for the AD process, with R2 values ranging from 0.996 to 0.935 and lag phase reduction from 0.273 (untreated) to 0.102-0.000 days for the pretreated conditions. Methane yield and production rates increased from 88.85 mL g-VS−1 and 15.01 mL g-VS−1 day−1 (untreated) to 110.48-206.41 mL g-VS−1 and 30.76-71.33 mL g-VS−1 day−1, respectively. Pearson correlation revealed a positive correlation between cellulose and methane yield enhancement, while lignin, crystallinity index, and pH showed negative correlations. Despite these negative correlations, their impact on the AD process was limited. Overall, changes in lignocellulosic structure and increased cellulose content were the main factors enhancing methane production. Additionally, the study recommends a new cost-effective reactor design for TH pretreatment.

The potential of using sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata) husk waste as a source for biodegradable plastics

Synthetic plastics are generally challenging to degrade in the environment and capable of releasing harmful chemicals upon improper disposal, endangering both wildlife and humans. Therefore, this study aimed to develop cellulose-based bioplastics from corn husk waste and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using sorbitol as a plasticizer. The effect of corn husk delignification, CMC addition, and variations in sorbitol concentration were investigated. The results of Chesson's test showed that the delignification process increased cellulose content to 77.30% and decreased lignin content to 3.6%. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose components from corn husk fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the elevation of corn husk crystallinity from 63.97% to 80.83% after the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed bioplastic morphologies featuring porous and smooth surfaces juxtaposed with uneven and lumpy characteristics. Biodegradation assessment yielded a peak value of 33.4% under a composition comprising 3% CMC and 1.5% sorbitol. The swelling test performed on corn husk bioplastic samples produced values ranging from 52.89 to 66%, with the highest value recorded at 66% for the bioplastic formulation consisting of 3% CMC and 1.5% sorbitol. Resistance testing on samples containing 3% CMC, with a soaking time of four days in acidic environments, indicated a maximum weight loss of 61.3% (10% H2SO4) and 62.5% (20% H2SO4). Alkaline resistance tests displayed a 95.6% (10% NaOH) and 94.6% (20% NaOH) weight loss under similar conditions. These results suggested the potential utility of corn husk waste as a viable bioplastic source, promoting the circular economy concept in Indonesia while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste volume, and increasing rural economic growth.

CELLULOSE NANOFIBER FROM YERBA MATE STICKS: SURVEY OF MORPHOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES

This study aims to evaluate different process conditions for obtaining cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from yerba mate residues. This includes chemical (bleaching and/or TEMPO-oxidation), physical (steam explosion), and mechanical treatments (ultrafine grinding). All treatments demonstrated to be efficient in obtaining CNFs, as observed from a morphological analysis by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). A reduction of hemicelluloses and an increase in cellulose content was observed from the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results, after all the treatments. The yerba mate sample that underwent physical/chemical/mechanical treatments showed a higher thermal degradation temperature peak at 333 °C, with a degradation of 50% of the initial mass. The activation energy (Ea) increased from 33% to 64%, when the CNFs were obtained using the derivative Friedman method for all the samples, and this method presented a greater proximity to the experimental results. These results demonstrate that CNFs can be obtained from yerba mate residues, to valorize this lignocellulosic biomass.

Changes over time in ferroelectricity of nanocomposites containing cellulose combined with [NH4][Zn(HCOO)3

ABSTRACT For the first time, a composite based on a ferroelectric metal-organic framework of [NH4][Zn(HCOO)3] combined with nanocellulose at different cellulose concentrations from 0 to 75 wt% was synthesised to investigate the changes over time in phase transition and ferroelectric switching. A comparative study for fresh samples and the samples after 288 h was conducted. Electrophysical parameters were measured in a temperature range of 140 to 245 K under a weak electric field with an amplitude of 2 V.cm−1 at a frequency of 1 kHz. The results indicated that the increase in cellulose content led to increasing the phase transition temperature from 190.1 to 238.5 K. Besides, the coercive field was also found to increase from 3.78 to 14.12 kV.cm−1 along with the reduction of dielectric permittivity and maximum polarisation. After 288 h, this phase transition decreased significantly over time even to 231.6 K in the case of highest cellulose content (75 wt%). Meanwhile, the coercive field was found to decrease from 14.12 to 10.57 kV.cm−1. Remarkable changes were detected for samples with cellulose content of higher 25 wt%. The weaker interaction between ferroelectric part and cellulose over time due to the softness of cellulose was responsible for the obtained phenomena.

Brassinosteroids affect wood development and properties of Fraxinus mandshurica.

Xylem development plays a crucial role in wood formation in woody plants. In recent years, there has been growing attention towards the impact of brassinosteroids (BRs) on this xylem development. In the present study, we evaluated the dynamic variation of xylem development in Fraxinus mandshurica (female parent, M8) and a novel interspecific hybrid F. mandshurica × Fraxinus sogdiana (1601) from May to August 2020. We obtained RNA-Seq transcriptomes of three tissue types (xylem, phloem, and leaf) to identify the differences in xylem-differentially expressed genes (X-DEGs) and xylem-specifically expressed genes (X-SEGs) in M8 and 1601 variants. We then further evaluated these genes via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) alongside overexpressing FmCPD, a BR biosynthesis enzyme gene, in transient transgenic F. mandshurica. Our results indicated that the xylem development cycle of 1601 was extended by 2 weeks compared to that of M8. In addition, during the later wood development stages (secondary wall thickening) of 1601, an increased cellulose content (14%) and a reduced lignin content (11%) was observed. Furthermore, vessel length and width increased by 67% and 37%, respectively, in 1601 compared with those of M8. A total of 4589 X-DEGs were identified, including enzymes related to phenylpropane metabolism, galactose metabolism, BR synthesis, and signal transduction pathways. WGCNA identified hub X-SEGs involved in cellulose synthesis and BR signaling in the 1601 wood formation-related module (CESA8, COR1, C3H14, and C3H15); in contrast, genes involved in phenylpropane metabolism were significantly enriched in the M8 wood formation-related module (CCoAOMT and CCR). Moreover, overexpression of FmCPD in transient transgenic F. mandshurica affected the expression of genes associated with lignin and cellulose biosynthesis signal transduction. Finally, BR content was determined to be approximately 20% lower in the M8 xylem than in the 1601 xylem, and the exogenous application of BRs (24-epi brassinolide) significantly increased the number of xylem cell layers and altered the composition of the secondary cell walls in F. mandshurica. Our findings suggest that BR biosynthesis and signaling play a critical role in the differing wood development and properties observed between M8 and 1601 F. mandshurica.

Effect of chemical treatment on physico-chemical properties of a novel extracted cellulosic Cryptostegia grandiflora fiber ∗ ∗ Some of the images used in figure 1 of this paper were previously published in another work by the same authors, but correct attribution was not provided by the authors in the version of this paper that was originally published.

The increasing global need to achieve sustainability in product development demands the use of biodegradable materials from renewable resources in many engineering applications. Accordingly, various natural fibers were explored as suitable reinforcement in polymer matrixes due to their low density and biodegradability. Hence, in this present work, a novel fiber reinforcement was extracted from the stem of the Cryptostegia grandiflora (CG) plant through a retting process and manual intervention. The extracted Cryptostegia grandiflora fibers (CGFs) were chemically treated using NaOH and silane. Various properties like crystal structure, chemical composition, surface morphology, and thermal degradation were studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The increasing cellulose content and the removal of hemicellulose after the chemical treatment indicate the potential for this CG fiber as a better reinforcement element in polymers. The increasing trend of tensile strength was observed for the CG fiber in the following order: silane > NaOH > untreated conditions. Two-stage thermal degradation was observed in all the cases where the maximum thermal degradation was found at the silane-treated CG fibers. Based on their performance, the chemically treated CG fibres can be made into composites and used for structural applications.

Synthesis of hierarchical HZSM-5 utilizing natural cellulose as templates for promoted production of aromatic hydrocarbons in the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass

Templating agents were created by utilizing several methods to handle natural cellulose (bagasse), and they were successfully used to treat HZSM-5 to introduce extra mesopores. In addition, the hierarchical HZSM-5 was employed in the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass to produce hydrocarbon fuels. The hydroxyl content in the templating agent could be promoted via hydrothermal and ultrasound-assisted treatment, improving their performance as templates to produce mesopores. The cellulose content in the templating agents was effectively boosted via hydrothermal-assisted treatment, whereas their relative crystallinity was improved by ultrasound assistance. The formation of mesopores was promoted with the increased cellulose content in the templating agents, and the catalytic performance in upgrading pyrolysis gas for aromatic hydrocarbons could be significantly improved. Higher relative crystallinity was advantageous for enhancing the stability of the templating agent in the catalyst synthesis system, and the formation of pore structures of the catalyst was promoted. Among all catalysts synthesized, catalysts synthesized by hydrothermal-assisted treatment (Cat-H(X)) presented the highest specific surface area and average pore size of 397.60 m2/g and 4.53 nm, which were about 1.41 and 1.98 times of commercial HZSM-5 (H-Z). The highest yield of BTX obtained with Cat-H(X) was 8.7 wt%, 1.81 times that obtained with H-Z.