Selective Synthesis of Oligosaccharides by Mechanochemical Hydrolysis of Chitin over a Carbon-Based Catalyst

Oligosaccharides possess fascinating functions that are applicable in a variety of fields, such as agriculture. However, the selective synthesis of oligosaccharides, especially chitin-oligosaccharides, has remained a challenge. Chitin-oligosaccharides activate the plant immune system, enabling crops to withstand pathogens without harmful agrichemicals. Here, we demonstrate the conversion of chitin to chitin-oligosaccharides using a carbon catalyst with weak acid sites and mechanical milling. The catalyst produces chitin-oligosaccharides with up to 94 % selectivity in good yields. Monte-Carlo simulations indicate that our system preferentially hydrolyzes larger chitin molecules over oligomers, thus providing the desired high selectivity. This unique kinetics is in contrast to the fact that typical catalytic systems rapidly hydrolyze oligomers to monomers. Unlike other materials carbons more strongly adsorb large polysaccharides than small oligomers, which is suitable for the selective synthesis of small oligosaccharides.     

均相催化剂催化氧气氧化生物质制备甲酸

甲酸是一种重要的化工原料,以可再生生物质为原料,通过催化氧气氧化制备甲酸具有重要意义。对于不溶于水的生物质原料的转化,采用可溶于水的均相催化剂体系证明是有效的。本文总结了均相催化剂体系(包括含钒杂多酸、含钒杂多酸+H₂SO₄、含钒杂多酸基离子液体、NaVO₃+H₂SO₄、VOSO₄、NaVO₃-FeCl₃+H₂SO₄、FeCl₃+H₂SO₄等)在催化氧气氧化生物质(包括生物质模型化合物、纤维素、木材、秸秆和玉米芯等)制备甲酸方面的研究,分析了其转化的过程和机理。最后,指出了目前催化氧化生物质制备甲酸存在的问题和挑战。     

Biosorption of cadmium and nickel by functionalized husk of Lathyrus sativus

The husk of Lathyrus sativus (HLS) has been functionalized by introducing thio groups with the help of carbon disulphide treatment in alkaline environment. Elemental analysis indicates that sulphur content of the functionalized biomass increases to 3.7% from 0.36% of the pristine biomass suggesting the incorporation of thio group on HLS. A conspicuous change in the surface morphology of the biomass due to functionalization is depicted by SEM images. EDX data support the introduction of sulphur group on the HLS. The involvement of the hydroxyl groups mainly in the functionalization process is demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic study. The adsorption capacity of the functionalized biomass with respect to cadmium and nickel is observed to increase by about 50% compared to that of pristine one. Similar to the case of unmodified HLS the adsorption process involving the functionalized one obeys Langmuir isotherm model and attains equilibrium in 10 min compared with 60 min in the case of unmodified biomass.     

Enhanced Production of High-Quality Biomass, δ-Aminolevulinic Acid,Bilipigments, and Antioxidant Capacity of a Food Alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nostochopsis lobatus</Emphasis>

The growing interest in natural food has raised the global demand for nutraceuticals. We studied enhanced production of biomass, delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA), bili pigments and antioxidant capacity of a food alga Nostochopsis lobatus in a full-factorial (three level) design with supplemental Zn, glutamine, and Zn + glutamine in batch culture. Production of biomass, pigments, and antioxidant capacity all were higher under immobilized cell cultures in comparison to free cell cultures. Maximum biomass (2,390 mg dry wt l(-1)), delta-ALA (2.715 microg mg(-1) dry wt h(-1)), phycocyanin (98.50 mg g(-1) dry wt), phycoerythrin (158.0 mg g(-1) dry wt), and antioxidant capacity (140.50 mumoles ascorbic acid equivalent capacity g(-1) fresh wt) were recorded when Zn and glutamine were supplemented together in the growth medium at pH 7.8. These effects were found to be significantly related to the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS(max): 490.2 nmoles mg protein(-1) min(-1)), glutamate synthase (GOGAT(max): 27.0 nmoles mg protein(-1) min(-1)), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH(max): 159.9 nmoles mg protein(-1) min(-1)). This study shows that N. lobatus could be a promising bioresource for the production of nutritionally rich biomass, delta-ALA, bili pigments, and antioxidants. Use of immobilized cells in batch culture supplemented with Zn and glutamine could be an effective approach for scaling up production for commercial use.     

Amperometric Ascorbic Acid Sensor Based on Disposable Facial Tissues Derived Carbon Aerogels

In this study,the disposable facial tissues derived carbon aerogels(DFTs-CAs)were synthesized using disposable facial tissues as the raw material for fabricating a sensitive amperometric ascorbic acid(AA)sensor.The experimental results indicated that compared to glassy carbon electrode(GCE)and the popular carbon nanotubes modified GCE(CNTs/GCE),DFTs-CAs modified GCE(DFTs-CAs/GCE)exhibited better electrocatalytic activity(i.e.,lower peak potential and higher peak current)for AA electrooxidation and higher analytical performance for AA determination(i.e.,wider linear range,higher sensitivity and lower detection limit),which could be most likely due to the high density of defective sites and large specific surface area of DFTs-CAs.Especially,the DFTs-CAs/GCE was used for evaluating the AA level in real samples(i.e.,medical injection dose,vitamin C tablets,fresh orange juice and human urine)and the results are satisfactory.     

Development and validation of a fast high pressure liquid chromatography method for the analysis of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and fermentation products

A simple, precise, and accurate 10-min high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the analysis of organic acids, alcohols, and furans from processing biomass into renewable fuels. The method uses an H⁺ form cation-exchange resin stationary phase that has a five-fold shorter analysis time versus that in the traditional method. The new method was used for the analysis of acetic acid, ethanol, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, and furfural. Results were compared with a legacy method that has historically has been used to analyze the same compounds but with a 55 min run time. Linearity was acceptable on the new method with r² > 0.999 for all compounds using refractive index detection. Limits of detection were between 0.003 and 0.03 g/L and limits of quantification were between 0.1 and 0.01 g/L. The relative standard deviations for precision were less than 0.4% and recoveries ranged from 92% to 114% for all compounds.     

Sustainable acoustic absorbers from the biomass

There is currently considerable interest in developing sustainable absorbers, either from biomass materials or recycled materials, and it is the former that is the subject of this paper. A number of potential candidate materials are available from the biomass in the form of organic fibres. Non-fibrous materials, such as configurations of whole straw or reed, can also act as sound absorbers. A combination of impedance tube and reverberation chamber measurements have been carried out for a number of biomass materials and the effectiveness of current models for the prediction of the absorptive properties of natural fibres has been investigated. Examination of the acoustical characteristics of a range of natural fibres has confirmed their effectiveness as porous sound absorbers and also the limitations of current models for predicting their performance. Examination of the acoustical performance of materials consisting of different configurations of whole reeds and straws has revealed that these also possess considerable potential for application as broadband sound absorbers with particularly good low frequency absorption characteristics. The combination of natural fibres and whole reeds offer the possibility of developing a range of sustainable absorbers which act very effectively across the complete audio frequency range.     

Pyrolyze this paper: Can biomass become a source for precise carbon electrodes?

To advance science and technology, we must stand on the shoulders of others; they do not have to be giants, but they must be steady. Carbon electrodes made by dry pyrolysis of biomass are ubiquitous thanks to the enormous abundance and variety of biomass. However, making precise and reproducible carbons from highly varied precursors is challenging. One approach is to erase differences by intense etching or heating. Other strategies harness the richness of biomass by investigating biomass–carbon–electrochemistry correlations systematically and by developing chemical and thermal treatments for gentle homogenization. Comparing ～120 articles on ～80 biomass sources demonstrates that full reporting of the biomass origin, organ, age, and other parameters is essential for further development of precise and reproducible carbon electrode materials.     

Fitted higher heating value from proximate analysis of torrefied pellets of Pinus taeda L.

Abstract

A proximate analysis by using multiple linear regressions was used for the first time to analyze torrefied Pinus taeda L. pellets. The result, obtained from three fitted equations: HHV = 0.3921?×?FC + 0.1578?×?VM (statistical R² = 99.91%), FC = 39.4886 – 0.1042×T – 0.5640×t?+?0.0027×(T?×?t) (statistical R² = 75.05%), and VM = 0.3402×T?+?1.4262×t – 0.0061×(T?×?t) (statistical R² = 99.75%), indicated that the torrefaction of the pellets increased their high heating value (HHV) and fixed carbon (FC) and decreased the volatile matters (VM). These equations fitted the results better than equations published elsewhere.