Article
Environmental Sciences
YuJie Wang, Jing-yong Liu, Jian Sun, Sumarlin Shangdiar, Kassian T. T. Amesho, Yung-Chang Lin, Yen-Ping Peng, Ken-Lin Chang
Summary: The acid-catalyzed ionic liquid pretreatment of rice husks significantly improves cellulose conversion, removes most hemicellulose, breaks down the crystalline structure and outer silica layer of the husks, making it favorable for industrial applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sujithra Balasubramanian, Ponnusami Venkatachalam
Summary: This study focuses on lignin extraction from rice husk using a biodegradable deep eutectic solvent (DES) made with p-toluene sulfonic acid. The stability of the DES was analyzed through density functional theory calculation and it was found to form a stable H-bonded structure. The results showed that the optimized reaction conditions allowed for the extraction of lignin with good homogeneity.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jiahui Wei, Lizhen Wang, Shengcheng Zhai, Huamin Zhai, Hao Ren
Summary: The study investigated the depolymerization and dissolution of naked oat stem cell wall in subcritical water conditions, revealing the potential of naked oat stems as raw materials for green biorefinery. Results showed that lignin and hemicellulose removal rates were highest at 190 degrees Celsius, with substantial removal achieved. This research provides insight into overcoming the resistance of lignocellulosic biomass composite cell walls to depolymerization in a single green solvent.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ali A. Alshatwi, Jegan Athinarayanan, Vaiyapuri Subbarayan Periasamy
Summary: The study developed an integrated biorefinery approach to convert rice husk into different micro/nanostructured materials, including carbon microspheres, lignin/SiO2 nanohybrids, and cellulose nanostructures. The fabricated materials have potential applications in various biomedical fields.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Anusuiya Singh, Rosa M. Rodriguez-Jasso, Rohit Saxena, Ruth Belmares Cerda, Reeta Rani Singhania, Hector A. Ruiz
Summary: This study investigated the impact of subcritical water pretreatment on the chemical composition, biomass fractionation, and enzymatic hydrolysis of agave bagasse from various tequila production processes. The research identified optimal conditions for the pretreatment process, resulting in increased cellulose content in the solid phase. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated agave bagasse showed promising conversion yield, indicating its potential as a raw material in second-generation biorefineries.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Halimatun Saadiah Hafid, Farah Nadia Omar, Jiangyu Zhu, Minato Wakisaka
Summary: Cellulose was extracted from rice husk using an integrated delignification process involving alkaline treatment and acid hydrolysis. HNO3 treatment increased cellulose content and crystallinity, with slightly improved thermal properties. Economic analysis showed chlorine extraction yielded higher cellulose recovery but lower total operation costs compared to HNO3.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hyun Jin Jung, Hyun Kwak, Jinyoung Chun, Kyeong Keun Oh
Summary: By optimizing the parameters of the alkaline fractionation process, simultaneous removal of hemicellulose and ash from rice husk was achieved, resulting in high cellulose content in the solid residue and enhanced hemicellulosic sugar recovery in the liquid fraction. Additionally, nano-structured silica was successfully synthesized using the black liquor by-product, while high value-added cellulose nanofibers were produced through two-stage bleaching and colloid milling processes.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yu-Ling Chen, Chi-Chun Lo, Ying-Ling Liu, Yi-Ming Sun
Summary: The study processed brown solid residue from rice straw biorefinery using membrane separation in combination with the Soda-EG process to extract high-purity lignin. After lignin fragmentation, depolymerization, and solubilization, microfiltration was applied to recover the dissolved lignin in the filtrate. Further molecular weight fractionation was achieved by ultrafiltration, resulting in high-value-added lignin products within a specific molecular weight range.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amaia Morales, Jalel Labidi, Patricia Gullon
Summary: Valorization of walnut shells through biorefinery approach yielded oligosaccharides, lignin, and cellulose nanocrystals, suitable for the production of new materials and chemicals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jacopo Paini, Vittoria Benedetti, Lorenzo Menin, Marco Baratieri, Francesco Patuzzi
Summary: The study evaluates an integrated biorefinery approach for the valorization of biodegradable waste focusing on apple processing residues. Through subcritical water hydrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization, sugars are dissolved, lignocellulosic structure is improved, and hydrochar with potential as soil amendment or long-term applications is produced, sustainably valorizing food waste.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Choque-Quispe, Yudith Choque-Quispe, Carlos A. Ligarda-Samanez, Diego E. Peralta-Guevara, Aydee M. Solano-Reynoso, Betsy S. Ramos-Pacheco, Fredy Taipe-Pardo, Edgar L. Martinez-Huaman, John Peter Aguirre Landa, Henrry W. Agreda Cerna, Julio C. Loayza-Cespedes, Miluska M. Zamalloa-Puma, Genaro Julio Alvarez-Lopez, Alan Zamalloa-Puma, Elibet Moscoso-Moscoso, Yadyra Quispe-Quispe
Summary: This study developed an edible film using cellulose nanocrystals derived from agroindustrial waste. The addition of cellulose nanocrystals improved the mechanical and thermal properties of the film, but decreased transparency and solubility.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Xiaodong Tan, Qingyan Peng, Kai Yang, Tao Yang, Jana Saskova, Jakub Wiener, Mohanapriya Venkataraman, Jiri Militky, Wei Xiong, Jie Xu
Summary: Electrospinning technology is a versatile method for generating nano-scale membranes, but often lacks sufficient mechanical properties. Coating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on electrospun polyamide 6 (PA6) significantly improves mechanical strength and reduces porosity, making it ideal for infiltration and packaging applications. The Young’s modulus of the composite film is increased by 250% with CNC coatings, representing a promising solution for high-performance reinforced materials.
ALEXANDRIA ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Surendar Moogi, Jechan Lee, Jungho Jae, Christian Sonne, Joerg Rinklebe, Do Heui Kim, Su Shiung Lam, Pau Loke Show, Young-Kwon Park
Summary: This study focuses on the thermocatalytic conversion of rice husk for the production of BTEX chemicals, with considerations given to factors such as reaction environment, type of zeolite, and SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. The highest BTEX yield was achieved in CH4-D(650) with a H-2/CH4 molar ratio of 0.88, utilizing Ga/HZSM-5 zeolite with a Ga loading of 1 wt%. Excessive Ga loading on the zeolite was found to decrease the BTEX yield due to a decrease in available Bronsted acid sites.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
L. Du, A. Kruse
Summary: The study demonstrates the feasibility of using subcritical water for extracting valuable proteins and carbohydrates from Arthrospira platensis, providing an effective method for algal biorefinery.
JOURNAL OF SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ester Trigueros, M. Teresa Sanz, Patricia Alonso-Riano, Sagrario Beltran, Cipriano Ramos, Rodrigo Melgosa
Summary: The valorization of industrial solid residue from Gelidium sesquipedale after agar extraction using subcritical water was investigated, revealing high protein content with essential amino acids, a significant carbohydrate fraction, and a substantial amount of ash. The study focused on optimizing protein and carbon fraction extraction/hydrolysis through varying temperature and flow rate, with a key finding that higher temperatures led to degradation of protein. Additionally, the study established a correlation between antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds in the extracts, with potential applications of the solid residue as fertilizers in agriculture.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Fernando Tanleque-Alberto, Maria Vargas, Marisol Juan-Borras, Isabel Escriche
Summary: This work focuses on the characterization of beeswax from Mozambique, comparing its saturated hydrocarbon profile and thermal properties with other sources. The results show that beeswax from Mozambique and Honduras has higher melting enthalpies, indicating more energy is required to melt them, which might be attributed to the tropical temperatures and the specific wax production environment.
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Eva Hernandez-Garcia, Maria Vargas, Amparo Chiralt
Summary: In this study, starch films containing gellan gum and polyester blend films were prepared by melt-blending and compression moulding. The addition of phenolic acids improved the barrier properties and antioxidant capacity of the bilayer films, reducing lipid oxidation and microbial counts in packaged meat.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gabriela Clemente, Alberto Garcia-Prats, Purificacion Lison, Constanza Rubio, Santiago Vidal-Puig, Beatriz Ricarte, Vicente Estruch-Guitart, Loreto Fenollosa, Juan Manzano, Francisco Rovira-Mas, Maria Vargas, Alberto San Bautista
Summary: This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the academic performance of students at the School of Agricultural Engineering and Environment at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain). The results indicate a positive effect on student grades during the emergency remote teaching period in 2019-2020. The study also surveys instructors and students to identify challenges and proposes measures to enhance distance learning in engineering colleges.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hylenne Bojorges, Antonio Martinez-Abad, Marta Martinez-Sanz, Maria Dolores Rodrigo, Francisco Vilaplana, Amparo Lopez-Rubio, Maria Jose Fabra
Summary: The effects of high hydrostatic pressure pre-treatment on the extraction of alginate from different algae species vary, but it can significantly increase the yield of alginate. In addition, the pre-treatment can also affect the M/G values and gelling properties of the extracted alginate.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Evgeniy N. N. Donev, Marta Derba-Maceluch, Zakiya Yassin, Madhavi Latha Gandla, Sivan Pramod, Emilia Heinonen, Vikash Kumar, Gerhard Scheepers, Francisco Vilaplana, Ulf Johansson, Magnus Hertzberg, Bjoern Sundberg, Sandra Winestrand, Andreas Hoernberg, Bjoern Alriksson, Leif J. J. Joensson, Ewa J. J. Mellerowicz
Summary: Trees are a promising renewable resource for biorefinery, but their recalcitrance limits their practical use. Large-scale genetic engineering experiments were carried out to reduce recalcitrance in hybrid aspen, resulting in the identification of a construct with improved glucose yield. However, some constructs had negative effects on growth and wood properties. Different traits were associated with high glucose yields in saccharification with and without pretreatment. Genotypes with high glucose yields exhibited increased nanoporosity and altered chemical composition compared to wild-type trees. Pilot-scale pretreatment confirmed the superior sugar yields of the best-performing construct.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Loredana Malafronte, Secil Yilmaz-Turan, Leyla Dahl, Francisco Vilaplana, Patricia Lopez-Sanchez
Summary: Whole grain flours are good candidates for natural texturisers in foods and beverages due to their polysaccharides with techno-functional and nutritional properties. However, understanding the relationship between their physicochemical and rheological properties is crucial for developing complex fluids and soft materials using plant components.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Muhammad Mujtaba, Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto, Mahyar Fazeli, Sritama Mukherjee, Susilaine Maira Savassa, Gerson Araujo de Medeiros, Anderson do Espirito Santo Pereira, Sandro Donnini Mancini, Juha Lipponen, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: In response to the global warming crisis caused by uncontrolled greenhouse gas production, industries are striving to reduce their dependence on petrochemicals and petroleum-based industrial components and replace them with biobased, sustainable, and environmentally friendly alternatives. Agricultural waste, particularly lignocellulosic biomass, provides a significant resource for the development of various bio-products. Recent advancements in integrated biorefineries have improved the utilization of waste lignocellulose components to produce biofuels, platform chemicals, resins, bioplastics, additives, and other biobased materials for diverse applications.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Daiga Konrade, Sergejs Gaidukovs, Francisco Vilaplana, Pramod Sivan
Summary: Fruit and berry by-products, such as pomace, contain biologically active compounds, especially pectic polysaccharides, which can be extracted and used in various food and pharmaceutical products. This research aims to extract pectin from juice production by-products using a hot water extraction method with weak organic citric acid, minimizing the environmental impact and maximizing the content of bioactive components.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Reskandi C. Rudjito, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Maria Del Carmen Casado Munoz, Teun Kuil, Lisbeth Olsson, Mary Ann Stringer, Kristian Bertel Romer Morkeberg Krogh, Jens Eklof, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: The molecular structure of cereal arabinoxylans (AXs) from wheat and rye influences the activity of different xylanases, resulting in specific profiles of arabinoxylanoligosaccharides (AXOS). The accessibilities of xylanases are influenced by arabinose and ferulic acid substitutions.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Dongming Zhang, Reskandi C. Rudjito, Solja Pietiainen, Shu-Chieh Chang, Alexander Idstrom, Lars Evenas, Francisco Vilaplana, Amparo Jimenez-Quero
Summary: The intake of dietary fibers is important for human health. Two types of arabinoxylan fibers, one with ferulic acid linked and one without, were produced from wheat bran. The fibers were used in bread production and their interaction with other macromolecules in the bread was investigated. The non-digestability of the fibers was confirmed and they showed potential prebiotic effects during fermentation with probiotic bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shu-Chieh Chang, Mu-Rong Kao, Rebecka Karmakar Saldivar, Sara M. Diaz-Moreno, Xiaohui Xing, Valentina Furlanetto, Johannes Yayo, Christina Divne, Francisco Vilaplana, D. Wade Abbott, Yves S. Y. Hsieh
Summary: (1,3;1,4)-β-D-Glucans are widely distributed in various organisms, but little is known about the enzymes responsible for their synthesis outside the grasses. This study identifies and characterizes the (1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucan synthase RiGT2 in the Gram-positive bacterium Romboutsia ilealis, and demonstrates the production of (1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucans similar to those found in lichens.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Matthieu Bourdon, Jan J. Lyczakowski, Rosalie Cresswell, Sam Amsbury, Francisco Vilaplana, Marie-Joo Le Guen, Nadege Follain, Raymond Wightman, Chang Su, Fulgencio Alatorre-Cobos, Maximilian Ritter, Aleksandra Liszka, Oliver M. Terrett, Shri Ram Yadav, Anne Vaten, Kaisa Nieminen, Gugan Eswaran, Juan Alonso-Serra, Karin H. Mueller, Dinu Iuga, Pal Csaba Miskolczi, Lothar Kalmbach, Sofia Otero, Ari Pekka Mahonen, Rishikesh Bhalerao, Vincent Bulone, Shawn D. Mansfield, Stefan Hill, Ingo Burgert, Johnny Beaugrand, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Ray Dupree, Paul Dupree, Yka Helariutta
Summary: The introduction of callose through genetic engineering modifies the wood structure and decreases biomass recalcitrance, thus benefiting the economic and technological aspects of biorefinery processes.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Secil Yilmaz-Turan, Teodora Gal, Patricia Lopez-Sanchez, Mario M. Martinez, Carolin Menzel, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: This study explores the cascade extraction of polyphenols and pectins from apple pomace and their potential application as food emulsifiers. The extraction of polyphenols was achieved by a simple method using ethanol and resulted in remarkable antioxidant activity. Pectic polysaccharides were sequentially extracted using subcritical water at different temperatures and pH conditions. Acidic pH combined with higher temperature resulted in higher pectin yields, while neutral conditions were less selective towards pectin. The methoxylation of pectin and the relative abundance of different pectic domains could be controlled by subcritical water extraction, which has important implications for the valorization of pectic-rich agricultural wastes into valuable food ingredients.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pramod Sivan, Emilia Heinonen, Madhavi Latha Gandla, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Husamettin Deniz Ozeren, Leif J. Jonsson, Ewa J. Mellerowicz, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: Fast growing hardwoods are important renewable resources for producing bio-based materials, platform chemicals, and biofuels. However, the complex molecular structure of the cell wall components hinders the industrial processing of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, a hydrothermal step by sequential subcritical water (SW) was implemented to enhance biomass conversion in aspen wood. Subcritical water enabled extraction of non-cellulosic cell wall polysaccharides, improving saccharification yields and promoting the conversion of biomass into fermentable sugars and platform chemicals.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Monika Tolgo, Olav A. Hegnar, Johan Larsbrink, Francisco Vilaplana, Vincent G. H. Eijsink, Lisbeth Olsson
Summary: This study demonstrates that the xylanolytic activities of two LPMOs depend on the presence of xylan substitutions. The removal of arabinosyl and glucuronoxylan substitutions enhances LPMO activity. This research sheds new light on the activity and interplay of lignocellulolytic enzymes and is important for the development of biomaterials and enzyme cocktails.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)