Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate for xylitol production byCandida guilliermondii

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - In order to remove or reduce the concentrations of toxic substances present in the sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate for xyloseto-xylitol...     

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous alcohol and polyol solutions

In this work, we present experimental results for partial molar volumes and viscosities of aqueous solutions of n-propanol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol and 1,2,3-propanetriol at 25.00°C and literature data for other systems. The thermodynamic behavior of aqueous alcohol and polyol solutions is discussed in terms of the relationship between polar and non-polar groups and their effect on water structure. The relationship of hydroxyl groups to the number of non-polar groups in the solute determines the balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions and as a direct consequence, the thermodynamic behavior of properties such as partial molar volumes, and viscosity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cu(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions using the inner and outer portions of sugarcane bagasse

In the present work, the adsorption capacity of internal and external portions of treated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) to remove Cu(II) from aqueous solution was evaluated. In order to reuse this solid waste as an effective adsorption material, both portions were treated with three different solutions (hot water, ethanol and NaOH) to remove sugar, external gummy tissue and impurities. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a batch system at room temperature. The kinetic data were fitted to pseudo-second order and Elovich models for the internal portion, and to the Elovich model for the external portion reaching equilibrium times from 8 to 24 h. Freundlich and Langmuir–Freundlich models described well the adsorption behavior of all systems. The compositional differences of the two portions of SCB and the surface chemistry were analyzed. Material characterization by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated morphologic and chemical modifications of the material after each treatment. Results showed that external SCB treated with a sodium hydroxide solution and internal SCB treated with ethanol solution were the best adsorbent materials, and provided a surface with more affinity to remove Cu(II).     

Surfactant-assisted bioremediation of hexavalent chromium by use of an aqueous extract of sugarcane bagasse

Agricultural products and by-products are now widely used for removal of hexavalent chromium from waste water. This option is more efficient and less expensive than conventional physicochemical treatments. The purpose of this study was reduction of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium to non-toxic trivalent chromium by use of aqueous extracts of sugar cane bagasse, which contains a variety of reducing components, for example sugar. The rate of this process is accelerated by use of surfactant as catalyst.     

Characterization of sugarcane bagasse by autofluorescence microscopy

The spatial distribution of chemical compounds in sugarcane bagasse is an important issue in its use as a raw material for second generation ethanol production from cellulose hydrolysis. Lignocellulosic materials including whole bagasse, fiber, pith, and respective samples obtained after chemical bleaching were investigated using confocal fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy with one and two-photon excitation. Autofluorescence from unbleached samples revealed that emission from fiber walls containing the lignin fraction was longitudinally oriented. After bleaching treatment, the oriented emission was partially disrupted. Autofluorescence from bleached samples with a residual lignin content of about 1 % was ascribed to improved dispersion of remaining fluorophores throughout the samples inducing a concomitant reduction of fluorescence self-quenching in the samples. The combination of autofluorescence images with spectral emission and lifetime measurements provides a tool for microscopic characterization of natural bagasse samples. Moreover, the technique allows monitoring bleaching processes related to lignin removal.     

Cellulosic value-added products from sugarcane bagasse

Cellulose - Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a major by-product of the sugarcane industry and one of the most common renewable and sustainable cellulosic materials for various industrial...     

Pretreatment of bagasse by UCT-Solvent for the enzymatic hydrolysis

A thermochemical pretreatment of bagasse for the enzymatic hydrolysis has been carried out, in which pretreatment bagasse was autoclaved with binary solvent, composed of Water and organic solvent having upper critical temperature (UCT) on the mutual solubility curve. The pretreatment was named “UCT-solvent pretreatment.” The hydrophobic decomposition products from lignin and hemicellulose, that dissolved in organic phase at room temperature, could be easily separated from the solid and sugars in the aqueous phase. By using UCT-solvent instead of only water, the sugar recoveries from bagasse through the pretreatment and the enzymatic hydrolysis were much improved. There exists an optimal mixing ratio between organic solvent and water to maximize the effect of the pretreatment for enzymatic hydrolysis. The optimal ratio can be explained by the competitive effect between the ability of water as a reagent for the hydrolysis and the ability of solvent for the extraction of the decomposition product, and furthermore by the competitive effect between affinities of the solvent to hydrophilic hemicellulose and hydrophobic lignin. Decomposition of hemicellulose at lower temperature than 190°C was decreased, and hence the degradation of xylose during the pretreatment decreased. These favorable effects of UCT-solvent pretreatment are significantly attributed to the formation of the homogeneous single phase of organic solvent and water at high temperature and the phase separation at room temperature.     

Mechanism of anodic dissolution of copper in aqueous acidified solutions of different anions

The potentials of copper anodes were measured as a function of current density in aqueous acidified solutions of different anions. Tafel lines were obtained, whose slopes depend on the nature of the anion. This denoted the participation of the anion in the anodic dissolution of the metal. Hence, mechanisms were suggested based on the formation of intermediate cuprous compounds, which are further oxidized electrochemically, or undergo chemical disproportionation to cupric salts.The results in phosphate solutions indicated that the second electrochemical oxidation is the rate determining step. In chloride, nitrate and sulphate solutions, both the second electrochemical step and the disproportionation reaction govern the overall reaction rate.Measurements in acidified copper salt solutions showed that Cu²⁺ ions affect the reaction mechanism. Thus, in chloride and sulphate solutions, the disproportionation reaction becomes predominating, whereas in nitrate solutions the intermediate is mainly oxidized electrochemically. An interpretation is provided, based on the adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Carboxymethylation of hemicelluloses isolated from sugarcane bagasse

Hemicelluloses isolated from sugarcane bagasse were converted to carboxymethyl hemicelluloses (CMH) by carboxymethylation using sodium monochloroacetate and sodium hydroxide in ethanol/water medium. The reaction was performed under various temperatures, times, times of alkaline activation, the ways of the addition of alkali, and the amounts of sodium hydroxide and sodium monochloroacetate. The product had the maximum degree of substitution (DS) of 0.56. The structure of the resulting polymers was characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Destructive methods such as thermal analysis and non-destructive techniques such as gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were used to characterize the carboxymethyl hemicellulose preparations. It was found that a significant degradation of the polymers occurred during carboxymethylation. The thermal stability of carboxymethyl hemicelluloses was higher than that of the native hemicelluloses.     

Model-free kinetics applied to sugarcane bagasse combustion

Vyazovkin's model-free kinetic algorithms were applied to determine conversion, isoconversion and apparent activation energy to both dehydration and combustion of sugarcane bagasse. Three different steps were detected with apparent activation energies of 76.1 ± 1.7, 333.3 ± 15.0 and 220.1 ± 4.0 kJ/mol in the conversion range of 2-5%, 15-60% and 70-90%, respectively. The first step is associated with the endothermic process of drying and release of water. The others correspond to the combustion (and carbonization) of organic matter (mainly cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and the combustion of the products of pyrolysis.     

Dilute-acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at varying conditions

Sugarcane bagasse, a byproduct of the cane sugar industry, is an abundant source of hemicellulose that could be hydrolyzed to yield a fermentation feedstock for the production of fuel ethanol and chemicals. The effects of sulfuric acid concentration, temperature, time, and dry matter concentration on hemicellulose hydrolysis were studied with a 20-L batch hydrolysis reactor using a statistical experimental design. Even at less severe conditions considerable amounts (>29%) of the hemicellulose fraction could be extracted. The percentage of soluble oligosaccharides becomes very low in experiments with high yields in monosaccharides, which indicates that the cellulose fraction is only slightly affected. For the sugar yields, acid concentration appears to be the most important parameter, while for the formation of sugar degradation products, temperature shows the highest impact. It could be demonstrated that the dry matter concentration in the reaction slurry has a negative effect on the xylose yield that can be compensated by higher concentrations of sulfuric acid owing to a positive interaction between acid concentration and dry matter contents.     

Clean energy from sugarcane bagasse: quality evaluation by neutron activation analysis

The energy from sugarcane is one of the most important in Brazil’s energy matrix and the efficiency of extraction and processing is fully dependent on the quality of the raw material. The soil present in sugarcane was investigate here as a factor that can affect the production of energy. Chemical elements (Fe, Hf, Sc and Th) determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis were used for tracing soil in sugarcane and its derived bagasse. The lower calorific value (LCV) of bagasse demonstrated a good negative correlation (r = ?0.9727) with the ash content of the bagasse, which in turn was positively correlated to the amount of soil in the sugarcane. Therefore, the presence of soil reduces the production of energy from burning bagasse. The proportion of loss in the LCV was just slightly higher than the soil content, i.e. for an soil content of 10 % a reduction of 12.7 % was observed in the LCV.     

Conductance of acidified stannic acid solutions

Summary The conductance of sodium stannate solutions containing varying quantities of SnO₂, was measured after admixing to hydrochloric acid. The conductance drops as the SnO₂ content increases and then passes through a maximum, the position of which depends on the concentration of stannic oxide in the solution. The drop in conductance is due to adsorption of H⁺ ions from solution. The presence of the maxima may be due to a change in the size of the micelles. Similar experiments were carried out with perchloric or tartaric acid as acidifying agents. Electrophoretic mobility experiments indicated that the micelles are positively charged in HCl solutions and that the Zeta potentials vary in the same direction as that of the conductance. Desorption of ions could be affected by dilution.

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Zusammenfassung Die Leitf?higkeit von Natriumstannatl?sungen, die verschiedene Mengen an SnO₂ enthalten, wurde nach Zumischung von Salzs?ure gemessen. Die Leitf?higkeit f?llt, wenn der Zinnoxydgehalt steigt, sie durchl?uft dann ein Maximum, dessen Lage von der Konzentration des Zinnoxyds in der L?sung abh?ngt. Der Abfall der Leitf?higkeit ist der Adsorption von H-Ionen aus der L?sung zuzuschreiben. Das Auftreten des Maximums k?nnte mit einem Wechsel in der Gr?\e der Mizellen zusammenh?ngen. ?hnliche Experimente wurden mit perchloriger oder Weins?ure als azidifizierenden Medien durchgeführt. Aus Messungen der elektrophoretischen Beweglichkeit folgt, da\ die Mizellen in HCl-L?sungen positiv geladen sind und da\ die Zetapotentiale in gleicher Art diese Leitf?higkeiten variieren. Eine Desorption von Ionen konnte durch Verdünnung erreicht werden.

     

Pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolyzate for ethanol production by yeast

The cellulase system ofBacillus circulans F-2 effectively hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xylan, avicel, cellobiose, filter paper, cotton, andp-nitrophenyl-Β-D-cellobioside, and the crude enzyme produced mainly glucose from digestion of avicel. Two major and one minor peaks of enzyme activities were eluted on DEAE ion-exchange chromatography, and designated cellulase complex I(C-I) and complex II(C-II) for the two major peaks, and cellulase-III for a minor peak. C-I and C-II were further purified on gel filtration column of a TSK-Gel SW G3000 ×L. The molecular masses of C-I and C-II were estimated to be about 669 and 443 kDa, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the C-I and C-II complexes showed that the C-I complex was present as a multiple protein complex, consisting of at least five CMCases and two xylanases, and that the C-II complex was consisted of at least three CMCase and four xylan ases. C-I showed high activities of cellohydrolase, CMCase, xylanase, and Β-glucosidase, whereas C-II showed high activities of CMCase, xylanase, avicelase, and Β-glucosidase. The outstanding property of the C-II was its high hydrolytic activity toward filter paper, a highly resistant substrate against enzymatic degradation. However, cellulaseIII showed only strong avicelase activity. These results indicated that the cellulase system of the strain exists as multiple complex forms.     

Action of white-rot fungus Panus tigrinus on sugarcane bagasse

Biological pretreatments with three selected strains of Panus tigrinus were used for delignification of sugarcane bagasse. The fungi with potential for delignification were analyzed by determining the chemical composition of the decayed bagasse samples, and the selectivity in terms of weight loss of the different components was evaluated. All the strains grow abundantly on bagasse as unique carbon source. After determining the chemical composition of degraded bagasse, P. tigrinus FTPT-4745 was selected as the most efficient strain on a 6-g scale, since the carbohydrates were preserved. P. tigrinus FTPT-4741 and FTPT-4742 were the most efficient strains on a large scale (100 g).     

Partial molar volumes and activity coefficients of the water in aqueous polyol solutions and the osmotic pressures of these solutions

The freezing-point depression and density of aqueous polyol (alditol) solutions were measured, and the osmotic pressure and the partial molar volume of the water of these solutions were calculated. The osmotic pressures calculated from the freezing-point depression data were compared with those calculated with van't Hoff's equation and fairly good agreement was found. The partial molar volumes of the water in the solutions were equal or almost equal to the molar volume of pure water up to the highest concentrations examined. Also, the activity coefficient of the water was unity or almost unity up to the highest concentrations examined.     

Determination of flavonoids in cultivated sugarcane leaves, bagasse, juice and in transgenic sugarcane by liquid chromatography-UV detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with photo-diode array (DAD) detection was developed to separate and quantify flavonoids in sugarcane leaves and bagasse (= the crushed sugarcane refuse from juice extraction), and in sugarcane juice. Sugarcane flavonoids consist of a complex mixture of aglycones and glycosides (including flavonolignan glycosides), and the HPLC-UV method herein proposed is suitable for their quantification as total flavonoids. This method was applied to analyze samples of cultivated sugarcane, commercial juice and transgenic sugarcane leaves. Sugarcane leaves proved a promising source of flavonoids: an average of 1.10 mg of total flavonoids/g plant material was found in fresh leaves. Moreover, the flavonoid content of sugarcane juice (0.6 mg/mL) is comparable to other food sources of flavonoids previously reported. Transgenic sugarcane leaves ("Bowman-Birk" and "Kunitz") were compared with non-modified ("control") plant samples using the proposed HPLC-UV method, which indicated that the content of total flavonoids in transgenic plants is different from that in non-modified sugarcane.     

Pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse for enhanced ruminal digestion

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Crop residues, such as sugar cane bagasse (SCB), have been largely used for cattle feeding However, the close association that exists among the three major...