Lignin Components Research Articles

Utilization of Sago Solid Waste for Bioethanol Production With Variation of Sago Solid Waste-Solvent Ratio and Pre-treatment Time

Sago solid waste is a lignocellulosic material that can be used as a raw material for making bioethanol. The lignin component of lignocellulose can slow saccharification by preventing cellulase enzymes from accessing cellulose. The pre-treatment stage is the first stage of the lignocellulose-to-bioethanol conversion process, and it is used to lower lignin levels in lignocellulose. Saccharification and fermentation are the next processes in turning lignocellulosic material to bioethanol. The pre-treatment stage was carried out in this study using a 10% NaOH solution at a 4 bar pressure reactor and a temperature of 140 °C, while the saccharification and fermentation stages were carried out simultaneously (SSF) using cellulase enzymes and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30 °C and pH 5. The ratio of sago solid waste to NaOH solution and the period of the pre-treatment process were varied in the study. The sago solid waste to solvent ratios were 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7, with processing times beginning at 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 40 minutes. The maximum lignin reduction results (60.11%) were obtained at a ratio of 1:7 and a pre-treatment time of 40 minutes, while the highest yield of sago solid waste mass (35.14%) was obtained at a ratio of 1:5 and a pre-treatment process duration of 20 minutes. The results of the initial treatment stage were then continued with SSF for 0 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours with the highest bioethanol content of 12% at 72 hours.

Extraction and Modification of Cellulose Microfibers Derived from Biomass of the Amazon Ochroma pyramidale Fruit

Microfibers are important to several areas of human lifestyle, and the knowledge about their physicochemical characteristics allows for proposing new technological applications. The in natura microfiber of Ochroma pyramidale fruit (IN sample) and its extracted pulp (PU sample) were evaluated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/dTG and DSC). Microfibers were composed mainly of (68 ± 1)% holocellulose, (35.8 ± 0.1)% cellulose, (32 ± 3)% lignin and (3.7 ± 0.3)% extractives. The XRD pattern of the PU sample revealed that the mercerization process resulted in the change of the cellulose crystal structure from Iα type (triclinic) to type II (monoclinic). The SEM technique showed that the IN sample presented regular cylindrical/hollow-shaped wire-like microfibers with diameters ranging from 5 µm to 25 µm. However, the mercerization process changed their natural morphology. A significant change in the FTIR spectra after the removal of hemicellulose and lignin components was observed: weak bands at 1739 cm−1 (C=O stretching of lignin and hemicellulose fractions), 1463 cm−1 (CH3 of lignin) and 1246 cm−1 (C-O of lignin) were still observed in the PU sample, indicating that the lignin was not completely removed due to the natural difficulty of isolating pure cellulose. The TG/dTG and DSC evaluation revealed a temperature increase of the second thermal event (starting at 235 °C) in the PU sample, which was assigned to the cellulose and residual hemicellulose degradation. Then, this work aimed to disseminate and characterize a microfiber with unusual characteristics still little explored by the scientific community, as well as its cellulosic pulp, providing information that may be useful in its application in different industries, enabling the positive development of new biocompatible, renewable and sustainable materials.

High-Performance Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane Composites Reinforced by Birch Wood Fibers

A new method for the preparation of coatings based on renewable biomaterials such as castor oil and birch flour is suggested in this study. The introduction of birch flour in a polyurethane matrix synthesized from castor oil and oligomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) leads to a more than doubled value of tensile strength and almost doubled strength of adhesion to steel at 20 wt.% loading. The composite with such level loading has tensile strength equal to 7.1 MPa at an elongation at break of 31%, with an adhesion to steel of 3.71 MPa. Hence, the use of such level loading allows for an increase in tensile strength of 887.5% in comparison with that of polyurethane based on neat (as received) castor oil, leading to a decrease in the value of elongation at break. The adhesion to steel of these composites increases by 185.5% in comparison with starting polyurethane. FTIR and SEM studies identified the mechanism of the reinforcement effect of birch fibers. This reinforcement is based on the good wetting of birch fibers by polyurethane with the formation of chemical bonds between them, and the cellulose and lignin components of wood fillers. As a result, we obtained cheap bio-based coatings with acceptable mechanical and adhesion properties.

Quality Enhancement in Forage Crops of Cereals and Legumes

This article focus on quality improvement in forage crops, specifically grasses, cereals, and legumes. As milk and many other by-products obtained from dairy farms, poultry, etc are getting into demand, high-quality forage for livestock production is well recognized, and efforts to improve forage quality can have significant economic and environmental benefits. And an overview of current strategies for quality improvement, including breeding and genetic selection, management practices, and how these practices affect the quality of forage crops such as silica, lignin, and other phenolic components. Use of different breeding methods more over like synthetic cultivars, recurrent selection, etc. the use of biotechnology tools such as RNAi interference, tissue culture, and marker-assisted selection in the particular crop that has been developed for increasing the nutritional value, proteins that present in forage crops, and to decrease the harmful chemicals. Additionally, the paper discusses the challenges associated with quality improvement in forage crops and potential solutions. And about different types of grasses used for different types of cattle as supplements. Limitations that cause obstruction to improving the quality of forage crops. digestibility and how to increase the quality and protein content in milk and cattle. And nutrition that needs to be present in prescribed quantities in forage crops. Overall, this paper highlights the need for continued research and innovation in the field of forage crop quality improvement to support sustainable agriculture and meet the increasing demand for high-quality livestock feed.

Thermogravimetric kinetic analysis of catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis of simulated municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal through landfill and incineration represents a costly and hazardous challenge to global health, and loss of underutilised resource for the circular economy. Thermal pyrolysis of the organic components of MSW offers a scalable route to liquid fuels, but process optimisation requires deep insight into the associated thermochemistry and kinetics. Here we apply thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and kinetic modelling to the (catalytic) pyrolysis of a model MSW feedstock comprising cellulose, sucrose, sugarcane bagasse and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic waste, with or without Al-SBA-15, MM-Al-SBA-15 or HZSM-5 catalysts, occurs in three main stages, namely the melting and concomitant evaporation of volatiles, and subsequent decomposition of carbohydrate, then LDPE and finally lignin components. The rate of non-catalytic MSW pyrolysis increased with sample heating rates (from 20 to 120 °C /min) but had little impact on the temperature or mass loss during each stage. Catalytic pyrolysis is sensitive to the catalyst:feedstock mass ratio; increasing this ratio from 1 to 5 increased mass losses during the removal of volatiles and three subsequent decomposition stages, while lowering the temperature of LDPE decomposition. Kinetic analysis by Friedman’s isoconversional method reveals a monotonic increase in activation energy for each stage of (non-catalytic and catalytic) MSW pyrolysis. However, energy barriers for individual stages decreased with increasing catalyst:feedstock ratio and were sensitive to the catalyst type: Al-SBA-15 offers the largest decrease in barriers for carbohydrate (−86 kJ/mol) and LDPE decomposition (−92 kJ/mol), and similar promotion to HZSM-5 for lignin decomposition (∼100 kJ/mol), at the highest catalyst content. TGA is an effective tool for catalyst selection and process optimisation provided heating rates < 60 °C /min are employed, above which pyrolysis appears heat transfer limited.

Biodegradable, Colorless, and Odorless PLA/PBAT Bioplastics Incorporated with Corn Stover

The effective use of agricultural lignocellulose resources in biodegradable bioplastics has become the focus of people’s attention due to the inappropriate disposal of agricultural waste and plastic materials. However, the repulsive smell and uncontrollable color of agricultural lignocellulose-based materials limit their potential to replace common consumer plastics. In this study, when the corn stover (CS) meal enforced the PLA/PBAT matrix using the melt blending method, the lignin and hemicellulose components were shown to substantially impact the color darkening and unsavory odor release for the resultant bioplastic; therefore, an optimized scalable alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation that can be performed using traditional pulp and paper production lines was used to modify CS on a large scale (LCS) to enhance the properties of bioplastics fabricated with the PLA/PBAT matrix. As a result, the appearance color and odor character of the bioplastic enforced by LCS have been significantly improved compared to those of natural CS. In addition, the bioplastic (LCS/PLA/PBAT) exhibited good tensile strength (9.7 MPa), flexural strength (18.1 MPa), elongation at break (61.8%), and surface hydrophobicity with a contact angle value of 91.6°, which could meet the requirement of the Chinese National Standard for Packaging. The reinforcing effect of LCS on these performances lay in its rigid structure with a strong fiber network, high content of cellulose crystalline, and hydrophobic nature of lignin after treatment, as proven by FTIR, XRD, and SEM results. Therefore, our bioplastics filled with treated agricultural waste are attractive appearance-wise, economically competitive, and biodegradable, making them a sustainable alternative to common consumer plastics.

Improvement of Eucalyptus urophylla wood permeability via urea treatment

To increase the loading amount of modifier in wood, a simple and universal approach was developed to improve its permeability. The generated pores in wood can be backfilled with modifiers, thereby improving the function of wood. This study aimed to improve the permeability of Eucalyptus urophylla wood using a urea solution. The wood was treated under different conditions, including urea concentration, treatment duration, and temperature, and the wood permeability before and after treatment was measured using water absorption as an indicator. The treatment temperature and solution concentration had considerable effects on the water absorption capacity of the treated wood. The treatment of eucalyptus wood with a 5% urea solution for 12 h, under normal pressure, resulted in the optimal effect; water absorption reached 40%, which was 78.9% higher than that of the untreated eucalyptus. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, component analysis, and BET analysis were performed to examine the mechanism underlying the effect of urea treatment on eucalyptus, which is as follows: a weak alkaline solution can dissolve the internal components of wood, namely, hemicellulose, lignin, and alcohol-benzene, which leads to the destruction of the microstructure of the wood and increases the number of micropores and mesopores in the wood.

Controlled Allocation of Aromatic/Aliphatic Substituents to Polysaccharides and Lignin in Sugarcane Bagasse via Successive Homogeneous Transesterification Using Ionic Liquid.

Lignocellulosic agricultural waste is an abundant renewable feedstock that can be utilized as a sustainable source of biomass-based plastics. Ideally, it is used without discarding any components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. However, their utilization as lignocellulose-based plastics has been limited because of the low compatibility between the polysaccharides and lignin derivatives and the resulting poor mechanical properties of the final products. Here, we demonstrate a facile but highly controllable conversion of sugarcane bagasse into valuable thermoplastics by utilizing the excellent solubility and unique organocatalytic abilities of an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. In a homogeneous and one-pot chemical modification reaction system, the substitution ratio of an aromatic benzoyl group to an aliphatic hexanoyl group in the bagasse derivative was adjusted by the ratio of acyl reagents used. Moreover, the allocation of these two acyl groups to polysaccharide and lignin components in bagasse was successfully controlled only by exchanging the order of the acyl reagents introduced into the reaction system. The controlled introduction of the acyl groups into bagasse achieved a homogeneous polymer phase in the resultant multicomponent hot-pressed film, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties such as sufficient tensile strength (∼20 MPa) and excellent ductility with a high strain energy density (∼5 MJ m-3).

Lignin and Its Bioconversion to Polyhydroxyalkanoates by the Bacterium Pseudomonas putida

Plant biomass is a very promising source of raw materials to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals otherwise derived from petroleum-based products. Part of plant biomass is lignin, which is one of the main natural sources of aromatic compounds. Although it is a large industrial by-product and a renewable carbon source, further processing into value-added products is currently limited. One of many applications of lignin under consideration is its bioconversion to polyhydroxyalkanoates, i.e., biodegradable polymers, which, due to their properties, could find their use in the fabrication of everyday products or in medicine and replace petroleum-based plastics in the future. They are produced by various bacteria in the form of intracellular granules but their industrial implementation is hindered by high production costs, which depend mainly on the price of the carbon source used for cultivation. Through the efficient bioconversion of lignin to polyhydroxyalkanoates, we could obtain environment-friendly and cost-effective biorefineries. However, to successfully bring the technology to an industrial scale, it is necessary to prepare a biological agent that will quickly and efficiently assimilate the aromatic components of lignin. The metabolically versatile bacterium Pseudomonas putida represents a promising candidate. Although it is a bacterium with lignolytic activity, the commercialization of the process requires further research on genetic and metabolic regulation and the preparation of a quality substrate, which depends on the source and the isolation process itself, and the success is unlikely to be achieved without good characterization and pretreatment of lignin.

Multistage treatment of bamboo powder waste biomass: Highly efficient and selective isolation of lignin components

Bamboo pulp and papermaking produce a lot of bamboo powder waste, and its resource utilization is of great significance for biomass refining and environmental protection. Here, we propose an integrated approach involving mechanical activation, hydrothermal extraction, and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) multiple delignification for the efficient separation of bamboo powder. Among seven carboxylic acids based DESs, choline chloride (ChCl)-lactic acid (La) DES (1:1) is the most effective, with over 78.0% lignin removal and 88.9% cellulose retained after mechanical-hydrothermal (180 °C, 5 h)-DES (110 °C, 12 h) treatment. Notably, 84.7% of delignification is achieved after three times of ChCl-La DES treatment at 70, 90, and 110 °C respectively. The delignification rate is negatively correlated with the amount of carboxyl group in the DESs. The lower the pKa value, the higher the delignification rate. Additionally, the selectivity for lignin is improved with decreasing solvent polarity. DES treatment effectively degrades the guaiacyl unit lignin fractions and disrupts several β-aryl-ether bonds (e.g., β-O-4, β-β, and β-5). Furthermore, DESs exhibit good recyclability, with less than 10% reduction in delignification after three cycles. Theory calculations confirm that ChCl-carboxylic acid DESs could compete with lignin to break hydrogen bonds in lignocellulosic biomass by providing their chloride, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups. Overall, this study demonstrates the practical significance of multistage treatment for the effective fractionation of biomass into its three components.

Lignin-Degrading Bacteria in Paper Mill Sludge.

The effluents generated in the paper industry, such as black liquor, have a high content of lignin and other toxic components; however, they represent a source of lignin-degrading bacteria with biotechnological potential. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate and identify lignin-degrading bacteria species in paper mill sludge. A primary isolation was carried out from samples of sludge present in environments around a paper company located in the province of Ascope (Peru). Bacteria selection was made by the degradation of Lignin Kraft as the only carbon source in a solid medium. Finally, the laccase activity (Um-L-1) of each selected bacteria was determined by oxidation of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-etilbencenotiazolina-6-sulfonate) (ABTS). Bacterial species with laccase activity were identified by molecular biology techniques. Seven species of bacteria with laccase activity and the ability to degrade lignin were identified. The bacteria Agrobacterium tumefasciens (2), Klebsiella grimontii (1), and Beijeinckia fluminensis (1) were reported for first time. K. grimowntii and B. fluminensis presented the highest laccase activity, with values of 0.319 ± 0.005 UmL-1 and 0.329 ± 0.004 UmL-1, respectively. In conclusion, paper mill sludge may represent a source of lignin-degrading bacteria with laccase activity, and they could have potential biotechnological applications.

Role of α-Fe2O3 nano-particles in protecting wood from ultraviolet light degradation

Abstract The incorporation of nano-particles into coatings to protect wood against UV light has tremendous potential for improving coating performance. However, the understanding of the mechanisms by which these particles function on wood surfaces remains limited. The distribution and potential chemical interactions between alpha Fe2O3 and wood were studied. The ability of different sizes of Fe2O3 particles to intercept various wavelengths of light was assessed using ultraviolet/visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy using TiO2 and ZnO particles for comparison. All particles intercepted UV light, but α-Fe2O3 also intercepted a portion of the visible spectrum which might help explain its better performance. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis of α-Fe2O3 nano-particle distribution on different wood orientations of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) and shining gum (Eucalyptus nitens) showed that iron particles were uniformly distributed on both pine and shining gum, but provided better UV protection to the more permeable radiata pine surfaces. Characterization of chemical interactions between α-Fe2O3 and isolated lignin and cellulose by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) suggested substantial interactions between these particles and lignin components, but little interaction with cellulose. The results suggest that the role of nano-particles in the UV protection of wood surface is to intercept and disperse the light energy while interacting with the wood.

Raman spectroscopic assessment of fibers and seeds of six cotton genotypes

AbstractRaman spectroscopy (RS) is a vibrational spectroscopy. This work reported the RS spectral characteristics of fiber and seed of six cotton (Gossypium sp.) genotypes differing in fiber length. While the RS spectra of fiber samples were dominated by the cellulose‐related peaks, the spectra of cottonseed samples were featured by the bands related to oil, protein, carbohydrate, and lignin components. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two principal components (PCs) accounted for &gt;87% of the total variation of the two types of samples. The PC1 versus PC2 plot classified the six fiber samples into three groups, but their cottonseeds into four groups. This experimental evidence implied the possibility of RS combined with PCA for rapid fiber phenotyping of cotton as well as for evaluating cottonseed nutrient information.

A comprehensive review on how ionic liquids enhance the pyrolysis of cellulose, lignin, and lignocellulose toward a circular economy

AbstractThe sustainable use of plant biomass (PB) to produce new valuable compounds helps alleviate the world's excessive reliance on fossil fuels. Among the different processes available, pyrolysis has drawn significant attention for its efficiency in converting PB (including lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose) into solid, liquid, and gas products by thermal degradation. Moreover, the participation of ionic liquids (ILs) in the pyrolysis process can further facilitate this process, improve the quality of pyrolysis products, and enhance the operational parameters. This review article presents an in‐depth examination of how ILs enhance the pyrolysis of lignin, cellulose, and lignocellulose toward sustainability and circular economy (CE). The structural chemistry of the components of PB, namely cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose, is first discussed. Furthermore, the role of ILs in the pyrolysis of cellulose, lignin, and lignocellulose is thoroughly investigated. These roles include pre‐treating agent before pyrolysis, catalyst after or during pyrolysis, template during pyrolysis, and extractant after pyrolysis. In the following, the sustainability of PB pyrolysis with the participation of ILs is examined from three aspects: environmental, social, and economical. Finally, the PB pyrolysis was investigated from the CE aspect. There is no doubt that the participation of ILs in the pyrolysis process positively affects the operating conditions and product quality, so the whole process is only one step away from complete sustainability.This article is categorized under: Sustainable Development &gt; Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable Energy &gt; Bioenergy Climate and Environment &gt; Circular Economy

Diffusion in intact secondary cell wall models of plants at different equilibrium moisture content

Secondary plant cell walls are composed of carbohydrate and lignin polymers, and collectively represent a significant renewable resource. Leveraging these resources depends in part on a mechanistic understanding for diffusive processes within plant cell walls. Common wood protection treatments and biomass conversion processes to create biorefinery feedstocks feature ion or solvent diffusion within the cell wall. X-ray fluorescence microscopy experiments have determined that ionic diffusion rates are dependent on cell wall hydration as well as the ionic species through non-linear relationships. In this work, we use classical molecular dynamics simulations to map the diffusion behavior of different plant cell wall components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), ions (Na+, K+, Cu2+, Cl−) and water within a model for an intact plant cell wall at various hydration states (3–30 wt% water). From these simulations, we analyze the contacts between different plant cell wall components with each other and their interaction with the ions. Generally, diffusion increases with increasing hydration, with lignin and hemicellulose components increasing diffusion by an order of magnitude over the tested hydration range. Ion diffusion depends on charge. Positively charged cations preferentially interact with hemicellulose components, which include negatively charged carboxylates. As a result, positive ions diffuse more slowly than negatively charged ions. Measured diffusion coefficients are largely observed to best fit piecewise linear trends, with an inflection point between 10 and 15% hydration. These observations shed light onto the molecular mechanisms for diffusive processes within secondary plant cell walls at atomic resolution.

The Study of Potentially Lignocellulolytic Actinobacteria Pseudonocardia sp. AI2.

The search for microorganisms with potential for bioconversion of lignocellulose is now of immediate interest. Industrial waste is a source of various microorganisms. This paper describes results of the research of potentially lignocellulolytic actinobacteria isolated from activated sludge of the wastewater treatment plant of a pulp and paper mill located in Komi Republic (Russia). One strain of actinobacteria, AI2, was found to be sufficiently active in terms of degradation of lignocellulose-containing materials. Testing of the AI2 isolate demonstrated its ability to synthesize cellulase, dehydrogenase and protease to various extents. The AI2 strain was found capable of biosynthesizing cellulase to 5.5 U/ml. In case of solid-phase fermentation using treated softwood and hardwood sawdust, the content of main components changed most significantly in aspen sawdust: from initial concentration of 20.4% down to 15.6% for lignin, and from 50.6% down to 31.8% for cellulose. In case of liquid-phase fermentation, the content of lignin components decreased significantly in the treated aqueous medium that contained lignosulfonates: from initial concentration of 3.6 g down to 2.1g. Taxonomic study of the AI2 strain of actinobacteria confirmed that it belongs to the rare Pseudonocardia genus of actinomycetes. Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequencing, the AI2 strain is most similar to the species Pseudonocardia carboxydivorans.

An improved method for corn stalk in-situ degrading synthetic bacterial consortium construction in a cold region of China

A cornstalk-degrading bacterial consortium was constructed from a cold region of China. Soil and cornstalks samples were screened using lignin or cellulose as sole carbon source to obtain individual bacterial strains. Additionally, a bottom-up strategy was used to construct a bacterial consortium composed of six strains with a synergistic enzymatic pattern, resulting in a cornstalk weight loss of 43.62%, which was 15.08 percentage points higher than the control. Lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose components of cornstalk, respectively, lost 52.40%, 41.24%, and 45.97% of their weight at 15 °C soil conditions and within a 40 days period. This was significantly higher than the control treatment, especially for the lignin component. The consortium was composed of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas sp., Citrobacter portucalensis, B. thuringiensis, P. putida, Acinetobacter lwoffii.

Acidic and alkaline deep eutectic solvents (DESs) pretreatment of grapevine: Component analysis, characterization, lignin structural analysis, and antioxidant properties

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been extensively applied to pretreat lignocellulose; however, comparative research on acidic and alkaline DES pretreatment is relatively lacking. Herein, pretreatment of grapevine agricultural by-products with seven DESs were compared in terms of removal of lignin and hemicellulose and component analysis of the pretreated residues. Among the tested DESs, both acidic choline chloride-lactic (CHCl-LA), and alkaline potassium carbonate-ethylene glycol (K2CO3-EG) were effective in delignification. Thereafter, the CHCl-LA and K2CO3-EG extracted lignin was compared by analyzing their physicochemical structure changes and antioxidant properties. The results showed that the thermal stability, molecular weight, and phenol hydroxyl percentage of CHCl-LA lignin were inferior to K2CO3-EG lignin. It was found that the high antioxidant activity of K2CO3-EG lignin was mainly attributed to the abundant phenol hydroxyl, guaiacyl (G), and para-hydroxy-phenyl (H). By comparing acidic and alkaline DES pretreatments and their lignin nuances in biorefining, novel insights are derived for the scheduling and selection of DES for lignocellulosic pretreatment.

Lignin‐based covalent adaptable network resins for digital light projection 3D printing

Abstract3D printing is a low cost, customizable, and fast‐growing technology with the potential to revolutionize plastic manufacturing. Vat photopolymerization 3D printing technologies stand out for their high resolution, however, the resulting printed materials are made from petroleum feedstocks and are covalently crosslinked which renders them unrecyclable. Here, resin formulations with 70 wt% bio‐based content and dynamic functionality are synthesized and printed using lignin, vanillin, and soybean oil components. These printed polymers can undergo dynamic transesterification due to the methacrylated lignin (LMA) to allow for self‐healing capabilities; therefore, potentially increasing the materials lifetimes compared to traditional thermoset materials, offsetting the use of traditional petroleum‐based resins, and lowering their environmental impact. The LMA also provides the thermosets with better mechanical performance and thermal stability in comparison to the controls. Additionally, compatibility with 3D printing technologies improves the competitiveness of biobased plastics with conventional materials.

Effects of phosphoric acid/hydrogen peroxide, ammonia/hydrogen peroxide and deep eutectic solvent pretreatments on component separation and enzymatic saccharification of Glycyrrhiza residue

Glycyrrhiza glabra residue (GR), the fibrous industrial byproduct of glycyrrhizin extraction, and its conversion to sugars are of high potential value in biorefinery. To depolymerize GR and to separate its glucan, xylan and lignin components, three pretreatment agents were applied: PHP (phosphoric acid/hydrogen peroxide), AHP (ammonia/hydrogen peroxide) and DES (deep eutectic solvent). PHP removed the most lignin (81.7 %), while AHP recovered the most sugar (97.2 %). DES pretreatment gave a balanced 78.4 % lignin removal and 83.9 % sugar recovery. GR component separation for each pretreatment was verified by SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. Enzymatic saccharification of DES pretreated GR gave a higher sugar yield than that from PHP or AHP pretreatment, explained by fractal-like kinetic analysis of the rate constant and fractal dimension parameters. Overall, sugar yield was dependent on a combination of component separation and substrate size distribution and morphology.