Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Maisha Maliha, Rajini Brammananth, Ross L. Coppel, Melissa Werrett, Philip C. Andrews, Warren Batchelor
Summary: This study investigates the effect of different lignocellulosic pulps on the composite properties for active packaging applications. Kraft pulp with thinner fibers exhibits better properties, while bleached Kraft pulp shows the best barrier, mechanical, and antibacterial properties.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Hongfeng Zhang, Paul Bicho, Erin A. S. Doherty, Richard J. Riehle, Jose Moran-Mirabal, Robert H. Pelton
Summary: The study aims to elucidate the mechanisms that control the amount of Poly(ethylene-alt-maleic acid) fixed on pulp fibers after impregnation, discovering physical and chemical fixation mechanisms. The pH of the impregnation solution determines the dominant fixation mechanism at curing temperatures. Physical fixation dominates at pH > 8, while chemical fixation dominates at pH <= 7.
Article
Polymer Science
Claire Dislaire, Bastien Seantier, Marion Muzy, Yves Grohens
Summary: The study compared different wood fibers used in the manufacturing process of molded pulp product, with findings that kraft fibers have smoother surfaces and lower non-cellulosic molecules compared to recycled fibers. Then, the mechanical properties of MPP were found to be lower with kraft fibers, while their moisture uptake falls between recycled fibers and BCTMP. Removing non-cellulosic molecules reduces the mechanical properties of MPP, while incorporating non-wood molecules, as in recycled fibers, also decreases mechanical properties and moisture uptake.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Stephanie Christau, Elif Alyamac-Seydibeyoglu, Kayla Thayer, William M. Gramlich
Summary: In this study, a simple grafting-through polymerization approach was used to attach various polymeric surface modifications to BSKP. The modified and unmodified BSKP samples were evaluated for fibrillation and the effect of the polymeric surface modifications on WRVfiltration was studied.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Perciani de Moraes, Flavio Henrique Covolam Boldrin, Tiago Moreira Bastos Campos, Gilmar Patrocinio Thim, Lianqing Yu, Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza, Liana Alvares Rodrigues
Summary: This study proposes new black-wattle tannin/kraft lignin H3PO4-activated carbon xerogels as sustainable and efficient adsorbents. The carbon xerogels exhibit a high specific surface area and pore volume, which is attributed to the inclusion of kraft lignin. The best adsorbent (XLT 50%) shows a high adsorption capacity for methylene blue and demonstrates good reusability and versatility for adsorption processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guangxu Yang, Zhenggang Gong, Xiaolin Luo, Lihui Chen, Li Shuai
Summary: A method for preparing lignin-based wood adhesives from biomass has been developed, which can replace traditional synthetic adhesives. Plywood with superior performances can be produced using these adhesives, making them promising alternatives in various industries.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Bo Yang, Xiaoyu Qin, Chao Duan, Zhibin He, Yonghao Ni
Summary: In this laboratory study, hardwood bleached kraft pulp was converted to dissolving pulp by removing hemicellulose using organic electrolyte solutions. The optimal conditions led to a dissolving pulp with a yield of 76%, cellulose content of 91%. The study also explored the potential of selectively removing hemicelluloses using a ternary system.
Article
Polymer Science
Klementina Pusnik Cresnar, Alexandra Zamboulis, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris, Alexandra Aulova, Lidija Fras Zemljic
Summary: This research focuses on key priorities in the field of sustainable plastic composites that will reduce CO2 pollution and support the EU's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The study investigates the development of high-performance polyphenol-reinforced thermoplastic composites using natural fillers to improve final performance and increase multifunctionalities. The results show that PLA composites with Kraft lignin (KL) and tannin (TANN) as fillers exhibit improved surface physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongfeng Zhang, Paul Bicho, Erin A. S. Doherty, Richard Riehle, Jose Moran-Mirabal, Robert H. Pelton
Summary: Impregnation with PEMAc solutions followed by high temperature curing can achieve high fixation yields and maintain repulpability. The challenges in moving this technology to practical applications include identifying optimal laboratory pulp curing conditions and translating these conditions to industrial processes. A modeling tool based on wet tensile indices of grafted pulp sheets at different curing conditions can help predict the repulpability of larger-scale processes.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiao Wu, Annika Culhane, Kashaf Amir, Paul Bicho, Erin A. S. Doherty, Richard J. Riehle, Sachin Borkar, Jose Moran-Mirabal, Robert H. Pelton
Summary: Comb polymers were synthesized using poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) and alkyl amines or poly(ethylene glycol) amines. These polymers were successfully used to modify the surfaces of bleached softwood kraft pulp fibers without the need for a catalyst. The grafting efficiency was high even though a large portion of the anhydride groups were consumed during amine derivatization. The optimal polymer dosage for efficient grafting was found to be below 13 g/kg for alkyl derivatives and below 38 g/kg for PEG derivatives.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Ravikant Patil, Adriaan van Heiningen
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of sodium methyl mercaptide (SMM) on the peeling reactions of southern pine chips during the kraft pulping process. The results showed that the addition of 4.38% SMM increased the pulp yield and improved the retention of cellulose. SMM pre-treatment also led to an increase in the degree of polymerization of cellulose.
Article
Polymer Science
Nissa Nurfajrin Solihat, Eko Budi Santoso, Azizatul Karimah, Elvara Windra Madyaratri, Fahriya Puspita Sari, Faizatul Falah, Apri Heri Iswanto, Maya Ismayati, Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Widya Fatriasari, Petar Antov, Viktor Savov, Milada Gajtanska, Wasrin Syafii
Summary: Efficient isolation and understanding of lignin properties are crucial for the effective valorization of lignin as a renewable feedstock for producing bio-based chemicals. This study successfully isolated lignin from black liquor using dilute acid precipitation and fractionation methods. The physical and chemical characteristics of the lignin were analyzed, revealing the effects of fractionation on lignin morphology. These findings have important implications for the industrial application of lignin in manufacturing improved wood-based composites.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Yali Liu, Sufeng Zhang, Lei Li, Sergiu Coseri
Summary: A few-chemical, low-energy process for the direct extraction of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from unbleached kraft pulp (UBKP) by potassium permanganate oxidation is proposed in this work. The residual lignin and hemicellulose in the pulp are converted into active components during the oxidation process, promoting defibrillation. The activated residual lignin significantly improves the UBCNF properties, especially the tensile strength of the UBCNF films. Moreover, the UBCNFs show great potential as an eco-friendly paper strengthening agent with remarkable enhancement in various properties.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Iara Fontes Demuner, Fernando Jose Borges Gomes, Jessica Silva Gomes, Marcela Ribeiro Coura, Felipe Pedersoli Borges, Ana Marcia Macedo Ladeira Carvalho, Claudio Mudadu Silva
Summary: Kraft lignin is a residue from the pulping process, but integrating the biorefinery concept is crucial for sustainable development. This study evaluated the production of lignosulfonates from eucalypt kraft lignin through sulfomethylation and acid sulfonation processes. Sulfomethylation was more effective in producing lignosulfonates with a higher sulfur content, solubility in water, and confirmed chemical modifications, while acid sulfonation showed lower efficiency.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaoxiang Xu, Qianyu Zhang, Xuedong Xi, Hong Lei, Ming Cao, Guanben Du, Zhigang Wu
Summary: In this study, tannin-hexanediamine (TH) adhesive was prepared by simply mixing tannin and hexanediamine and used to make plywood. The effects of the mass ratio of hexanediamine to tannin and the pH value of the TH adhesive on shear strength were investigated. The results showed that the plywood exhibited good water resistance when the mass ratio was above 25% and the pH value was above 9.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jenny Arnling Baath, Vera Novy, Leonor Carneiro, Georg M. Guebitz, Lisbeth Olsson, Peter Westh, Doris Ribitsch
Summary: This study rigorously characterized two almost identical cutinases and demonstrated that even minor sequence differences in cutinases can drastically affect their substrate binding, substrate specificity, and catalytic efficiency.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Martin Nagl, Oskar Haske-Cornelius, Lukas Skopek, Florian Bausch, Alessandro Pellis, Wolfgang Bauer, Gibson S. Nyanhongo, Georg M. Guebitz
Summary: Endoglucanases are potential solutions for reducing energy consumption in the pulp and paper industry, but the performance varies due to the different enzyme formulations. This study investigated the effect of four endoglucanases on softwood and hardwood pulp, revealing that degradation of amorphous regions is beneficial for the refining process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christiana Eleojo Aruwa, Stephen O. Amoo, Neil Koorbanally, Tukayi Kudanga
Summary: Enzymatic modification of phenolic molecules to form high molecular weight compounds is a promising strategy for enhancing biological activity. In this study, laccase-catalyzed oxidation of isorhamnetin produced a dimer, IP1, with improved antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as well as an unidentified product, IP2. Both oxidation products showed bactericidal effects against various bacteria and could potentially be used in nutraceuticals and healthcare industries.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Blessing Nemadziva, Sandile Ngubane, Faith Matiza Ruzengwe, Kabange Kasumbwe, Tukayi Kudanga
Summary: This study evaluated the suitability of potato peels as feedstock for laccase-catalysed synthesis of value-added bioactive compounds. The results showed that potato peels can be transformed into phellinsin A, a compound with antioxidant and anticancer activities, through alkaline hydrolysis and laccase oxidation reactions. Based on global potato production data, a significant amount of valuable compounds can be recovered from potato peels annually using this method.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sandile Ngubane, Kugen Permaul, Tukayi Kudanga
Summary: This study investigates the inhibition modes and thermodynamic properties of Trametes pubescens laccase, as well as its application in the synthesis of novel hybrid compounds. The enzyme exhibited reversible and irreversible inhibition by different compounds, and its deactivation energy and thermodynamic properties were determined. Moreover, the enzyme was successfully used in the synthesis of hybrid compounds with enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fabio Fait, Julia C. Steinbach, Andreas Kandelbauer, Hermann A. Mayer
Summary: Mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSMs) are prepared using p(GMA-co-EDMA) as hard templates with different porosity and surface functionalization. The incorporation of GMA into the template is determined by a PLS-R model based on FTIR spectra. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are deposited into the template and subsequently removed by calcination to form MPSMs with different pore parameters. The pore structure and separation properties of the silica particles are determined by the pore characteristics and functionalization of the template.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dustin Quinones, Kai Braun, Steffen Ulitzsch, Tim Baeuerle, Gunter Lorenz, Andreas Kandelbauer, Alfred Meixner, Thomas Chasse
Summary: The film formation of self synthesized Polymer EPM-g-VTMDS on V2A stainless steel surfaces with adhesion promoter VTMS was studied. Polymer films were spin coated on surfaces with adsorbed VTMS thin layers to analyze the film formation at early stages. The surface topography and chemical bonding were investigated using various techniques, and the formation of polymer islands and the crosslinking and silica network in the films were observed.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Simone Lauterbach, Hannah Dienhart, Jan Range, Stephan Malzacher, Jan-Dirk Spoering, Doerte Rother, Maria Filipa Pinto, Pedro Martins, Colton E. Lagerman, Andreas S. Bommarius, Amalie Vang Host, John M. Woodley, Sandile Ngubane, Tukayi Kudanga, Frank T. Bergmann, Johann M. Rohwer, Dorothea Iglezakis, Andreas Weidemann, Ulrike Wittig, Carsten Kettner, Neil Swainston, Santiago Schnell, Juergen Pleiss
Summary: The design of biocatalytic reaction systems is complex due to the dependency of kinetic parameters on the enzyme, reaction conditions, and modeling method. Enzymatic experiments and data reusability are challenging, leading to the development of EnzymeML, an XML-based markup language for storing and exchanging enzymatic data. EnzymeML facilitates the communication between experimental platforms, lab notebooks, modeling tools, publication platforms, and enzymatic reaction databases.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Julia C. Steinbach, Dmytro S. Golovko, Andreas Kandelbauer, Karsten Rebner
Summary: Rapid and robust quality monitoring of meat paste composition is crucial in meat and sausage processing. In this study, an in-line near-infrared spectroscopy/MEMS-based approach combined with multivariate data analysis was used to measure the fat, protein, water, and salt constituents in meat pastes. High accuracy predictive PLSR models (R (2) > 0.81) were obtained by including salt content in the calibration set, considering interfering matrix effects of salt on the spectral features of meat pastes.
ACS FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabio Fait, Stefanie Wagner, Julia C. Steinbach, Andreas Kandelbauer, Hermann A. Mayer
Summary: The hard template method has been used to prepare monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSMs) with in situ-generated silica nanoparticles (SNPs) controlling the size and pore parameters. Different alkoxysilanes were sol-gel processed with amino-functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (p(GMA-co-EDMA)) templates to determine the size of the deposited SNPs. The final MPSMs have a broad size range of 0.5-7.3 μm and a median pore size distribution from 4.0 to 24.9 nm, with adjustable specific surface area between 271 and 637 m^2 g^-1. The properties and morphology of the MPSMs vary with the type of SNPs, and different alkoxysilane combinations allow for individual design of the silica particles' morphology and pore parameters. Selected MPSMs were successfully used in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the separation of water-soluble vitamins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fabio Fait, Julia C. Steinbach, Andreas Kandelbauer, Hermann A. Mayer
Summary: High-performance liquid chromatography is a crucial analytical tool for identifying and separating substances. Monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSM) are commonly used as stationary phases, but their tailored preparation is challenging. This study successfully synthesized four MPSMs using the hard template method. The size, morphology, and pore properties of the MPSMs were controlled by the solvent used during preparation, and they exhibited comparable separation behavior to commercially available columns in reversed-phase chromatography.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Julia C. Steinbach, Fabio Fait, Hermann A. Mayer, Andreas Kandelbauer
Summary: Mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSMs) were synthesized using a hard template method to control particle size and pore properties. Response surface methodology was applied to predict the effects of synthesis parameters on MPSM characteristics. The prepared MPSMs were successfully applied as stationary phase for reversed-phases liquid chromatography, achieving protein and amino acid separation.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Latifeh Nasseri, Catherine Rosenfeld, Pia Solt, Matthias Mihalic, Andreas Kandelbauer, Johannes Konnerth, Hendrikus W. G. van Herwijnen
Summary: This study compares the gel point and crossover point of formaldehyde-based wood adhesives using the isothermal multiwave oscillatory shear test. Rheokinetic analysis shows no significant difference in activation energies between the gel point determined by the multiwave test and the crossover point obtained by the time sweep test.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Polymer Science
Gibson S. Nyanhongo
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tobias Drieschner, Andreas Kandelbauer, Bernd Hitzmann, Karsten Rebner
Summary: This study uses a design of experiment approach to characterize the transesterification reaction of rapeseed oil with methanol and utilizes process analytical technology (PAT) to gain insight into the process behavior.
JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS
(2023)