Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kapil Khandelwal, Sonil Nanda, Philip Boahene, Ajay K. Dalai
Summary: The global warming problem caused by the rapid use of fossil fuels is leading to an increased demand for sustainable energy sources, such as hydrogen. The demand for hydrogen has quadrupled from 18 million tons in 1975 to 90 million tons in 2020, and is projected to reach 180 million tons by 2030. This article reviews the conversion of biomass into hydrogen-rich syngas using supercritical water gasification, focusing on the thermophysical properties of supercritical water and the parameters influencing water gasification. The processes and reactions influencing the distribution of products during water gasification include hydrolysis, water-gas shift, methanation, hydrogenation, and reforming.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Binod Basyal, Cliff Foster, Katherine L. Gross, Sarah M. Emery
Summary: The study investigated the effects of N fertilizer and belowground organisms on lignin content and composition of switchgrass. Results showed that while N fertilizer had more pronounced effects, changes to soil organisms also had significant impacts on lignin, highlighting the importance of belowground interactions for growers to consider in the future.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Malgorzata Smuga-Kogut, Daria Szymanowska-Powalowska, Roksana Markiewicz, Tomasz Piskier, Tomasz Kogut
Summary: Production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is a promising proposition for sustainable energy; stinging nettle stems show high potential for bioethanol production, with imidazolium acetates pretreatment resulting in increased ethanol concentration.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kira Tiedge, Janessa Destremps, Janet Solano-Sanchez, Magda Lisette Arce-Rodriguez, Philipp Zerbe
Summary: FoMV-mediated VIGS has been successfully achieved in both leaves and roots of switchgrass, providing an alternative approach for studying gene functions and physiological traits in this bioenergy crop.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Michael Lugo-Pimentel, Emy Leblanc, Simon Kelley, Jean-Michel Lavoie
Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the operating conditions of a physicochemical pretreatment process for lignocellulosic biomass using homogeneous acid catalysts. Four parameters were examined: moisture content, acid catalyst, type of biomass, and reactor morphology. Different types of biomass were processed with sulfuric acid in a meat grinder, and the results showed that biomass moisture above 17% yielded less than 50% glucose. Sulfuric acid exhibited the best performance with a glucose yield of 74.5%, and the glucose yield had a direct relationship with the non-carbohydrate components of biomass.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shengbo Ge, Peter Nai Yuh Yek, Yoke Wang Cheng, Changlei Xia, Wan Adibah Wan Mahari, Rock Keey Liew, Wanxi Peng, Tong-Qi Yuan, Meisam Tabatabaei, Mortaza Aghbashlo, Christian Sonne, Su Shiung Lam
Summary: Microwave pyrolysis is a promising technique for converting agricultural wastes into biofuels. However, challenges remain in continuous production and there is a need for further research in microwave heating, product yield, and reactor design. Despite these challenges, microwave valorization offers environmental and economic benefits as an alternative energy generation route.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jude A. Okolie, Sonil Nanda, Ajay K. Dalai, Janusz A. Kozinski
Summary: Lignocellulosic feedstocks are becoming increasingly popular for industrial applications due to their availability and renewable nature. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry of different components of lignocellulosic biomass and explores various novel industrial applications, such as biofuel production, biomedical materials, and environmentally friendly products. Additionally, the potential industrial utility of lignocellulose-derived carbon materials and specialty materials like cellulose fiber and bioplastics is discussed.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Ahmed H. El-Sappah, Kuan Yan, Qiulan Huang, Md. Monirul Islam, Quanzi Li, Yu Wang, Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Xianming Zhao, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Jia Li, Khaled A. El-Tarabily, Manzar Abbas
Summary: Gene silencing is a negative feedback mechanism that regulates gene expression through TGS and PTGS, playing an important role in plant growth and crop production.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin Tong, Jia-Jia Zhao, Ya-Lan Feng, Jing-Ze Zou, Jian Ye, Junfeng Liu, Chenggui Han, Dawei Li, Xian-Bing Wang
Summary: Symptom recovery is achieved through a balanced arms race between viruses and plants. A small peptide called VISP1 can mediate the autophagic degradation of viral silencing suppressors, thus maintaining the balance between virus pathogenicity and plant immunity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shany Cohen, Mahde Hasan, Noa Frishman, Isam Khalaila
Summary: This article presents a sophisticated tool, called OSDel, for delivering dsRNA into developing oocytes for gene silencing. The tool exploits the process of receptor-mediated endocytosis to internalize dsRNA into oocytes. The authors successfully delivered dsRNA to developing oocytes and demonstrated gene silencing by targeting the eye development gene PAX6.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chandan Kundu, Shanthi Priya Samudrala, Mahmud Arman Kibria, Sankar Bhattacharya
Summary: The study demonstrates that thermally-assisted peracetic acid pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass effectively removes lignin with negligible loss of carbohydrates, achieving a 90% delignification rate. It significantly improves biomass digestibility, increasing glucan content, especially when conducted under mild temperature conditions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian-Hua Zhao, Hui-Shan Guo
Summary: This article reviews the history of RNAi mechanisms, introduces the phenomenon and potential mechanisms of trans-kingdom RNAi, and summarizes the major divergences in RNAi pathways in different kingdoms. It also discusses the applications and critical factors of trans-kingdom RNAi in crop protection.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Guo Liu, Yaojian Xie, Xiuhua Shang, Zhihua Wu
Summary: Cellulose is a key renewable energy resource, and the study analyzed cellulose synthase genes in different parts of E. grandis to understand cellulose biosynthesis. The research found significant differences in cellulose content at different heights and identified expression patterns of cellulose synthases, particularly in xylem tissues. This provides insights into the mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis and the roles of CesA and Csl genes in E. grandis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jing Guo, Yaqiong Wu, Tongli Wang, Yue Xin, Guibin Wang, Qi Zhou, Li-An Xu
Summary: Flavonoids in ginkgo are important secondary metabolites with extensive pharmacological functions. However, the biosynthesis of ginkgo flavonols is not well understood. In this study, the GbFLSa gene was cloned and found to potentially negatively regulate the biosynthesis of proanthocyanins. This study is significant for elucidating the role of GbFLSa in ginkgo metabolism and the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Snigdha Ghosh, Snehanjana Patra, Sarmistha Ray
Summary: Recent research reports have shown that plant pests and pathogens have greatly reduced crop yield, leading to increased reliance on commercial pesticides and fungicides. However, the increased usage of these chemicals has negative effects on the environment. To address this issue, various techniques such as nanobioconjugates and RNA(i) have been implemented, with a more eco-friendly approach being spray induced gene silencing (SIGS). This review examines the combination of SIGS and nanobioconjugates for improved crop protection against different plant hosts and their pathogens, and highlights the importance of nanotechnological advancements in developing updated techniques.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yufei Zhang, Junhua Yun, Hossain M. Zabed, Yuan Dou, Guoyan Zhang, Mei Zhao, Mohammad J. Taherzadeh, Arthur Ragauskas, Xianghui Qi
Summary: This study improves the co-production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) by metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli and process optimization. The co-biosynthetic pathways of 3-HP and 1,3-PDO were recruited and optimized in E. coli, coupled with cofactor regeneration systems to increase product synthesis. Pathway rebalancing and block of by-product formation improved the net titer of 3-HP and 1,3-PDO. Glycerol flux towards 3-HP and 1,3-PDO synthesis was maximized by removing metabolic repression and fine-tuning the glycerol oxidation pathway. The optimized fermentation process produced 140.50 g/L of 3-HP and 1,3-PDO, with a net yield of 0.85 mol/mol.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chihe Sun, Xianzhi Meng, Fubao Sun, Junhua Zhang, Maobing Tu, Jo-Shu Chang, Alissara Reungsang, Ao Xia, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: Enzymatic hydrolysis is a critical process in lignocellulosic biorefinery. However, there are limitations in high-solid conditions, leading to lower hydrolysis yields. This review summarizes the factors related to water, biomass components, and cellulase enzymes, and presents strategies to improve the hydrolysis reaction.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hossain M. Zabed, Suely Akter, Parveen Fatemah Rupani, Joseph Akor, Yufei Zhang, Mei Zhao, Cunsheng Zhang, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Xianghui Qi
Summary: Microbial conversion of waste glycerol into value-added chemicals, such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), is an important bioprocessing technology. However, commercial exploitation of 3-HP biosynthesis faces challenges including toxic effects, undesirable carbon flux, low tolerance, enzyme co-factor dependence, low enzyme activity and stability, substrate inhibition and specificity. This review critically discusses the fundamentals, challenges, recent research efforts, and outlines possible strategies for sustainable and industrially exploitable 3-HP production.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jian Peng, Xiheng Kang, Siyu Zhao, Peitao Zhao, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Chuanling Si, Ting Xu, Xueping Song
Summary: Regulating the pH and temperature during hydrothermal carbonization process can control the growth rate, morphology, and molecular structure of hydrochar. Acid regulation shortens the induction period and increases the growth rate of hydrochar, while lower temperature leads to greater adhesion. The main components of hydrochar are furan structural domains and aromatic clusters, with a surface rich in oxygen-containing functional groups. Increasing the reaction temperature enhances the aromatization of hydrochar, while acid regulation reduces it.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eliezer A. Reyes Molina, Trevor Vook, William J. Sagues, Keonhee Kim, Nicole Labbe, Sunkyu Park, Stephen S. Kelley
Summary: A new method is developed for producing green needle coke (GNC) by replacing the heavy fraction of petroleum pitch with fast pyrolysis biocrude. The addition of biochar fines is found to increase the graphitic nature of the final product. Biochar fines induce a nucleating effect during GNC development and promote polycondensation reactions, resulting in an increase in aromaticity and removal of oxygenated compounds. The use of biochar fines shows a significant increase in graphitic ordering, making it suitable for sodium-ion battery manufacturing.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Syed Sarfaraz Hussain, Manzar Abbas, Sammar Abbas, Mingke Wei, Ahmed H. El-Sappah, Yuhan Sun, Yun Li, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Quanzi Li
Summary: Alternative splicing in plants regulates gene expression through differential transcriptional modifications, allowing adaptation to environmental stresses and different growth stages. It causes the retention of introns in messenger RNA, leading to the translation of differentially expressed proteins. Additionally, alternative splicing remodels transcription factors at the post-transcriptional level, activating or repressing transcription.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nathan Bryant, Jin Zhang, Kai Feng, Mengjun Shu, Raphael Ployet, Jin-Gui Chen, Wellington Muchero, Chang Geun Yoo, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Yunqiao Pu, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: By characterizing a population of 409 naturally varying Populus trichocarpa genotypes, a genome-wide association study identified 756 genes significantly associated with lignin phenotypes, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis and new targets for genetic improvement in poplar.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mitra Mazarei, Pratyush Routray, Sarbottam Piya, C. Neal Stewart Jr, Tarek Hewezi
Summary: In this study, a transcriptome analysis of RNA-seq data was performed to select candidate genes associated with root growth and development in soybean. Overexpression of the GmNAC19 and GmGRAB1 transcription factors in transgenic composite plants significantly increased root growth, biomass, and seed yield. Additionally, GmNAC19 overexpression enhanced water stress tolerance in the transgenic plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jia Wang, Jianchun Jiang, Xianzhi Meng, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: This study investigated the production of biomethane (CH4) from pine sawdust through hydropyrolysis and vapor-phase hydrotreatment using a NiAl2O4 catalyst. The use of the catalyst significantly increased CH4 formation and reduced CO and CO2 in the gas products. The temperature and reaction pressure played crucial roles in CH4 generation and its selectivity.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jinyuan Cheng, Chen Huang, Yunni Zhan, Xuze Liu, Jia Wang, Caoxing Huang, Guigan Fang, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Zhanghong Xie, Xianzhi Meng
Summary: A biphasic system of DES/GVL was developed for efficient hemicellulose-furfural conversion, improved cellulose saccharification, and lignin isolation. The results showed that the biphasic system achieved a significantly higher lignin removal (89.1%) compared to the monophasic DES, accompanied by almost complete hemicellulose degradation. The presence of GVL in the biphasic solvent restricted the condensation of hemicellulose degradation products, resulting in a high yield of furfural (68.6%) in the pretreatment liquid.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhi-Min Zhao, Zhi-Hua Liu, Tongtong Zhang, Rongqian Meng, Zhiqun Gong, Yibing Li, Jing Hu, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Bing-Zhi Li, Ying-Jin Yuan
Summary: Bioconversion of bioresources/wastes using Rhodococcus is a promising approach for producing lipid-derived bioproducts. However, bioconversion involves living cells and is a complex system that requires further understanding. This review highlights the potential of Rhodococcus for producing lipids from various wastes and presents genetic modifications using emerging tools for promoting bioconversion. Additionally, strategies for enhancing the bioaccessibility of lignin and its derived aromatics and synthesizing biodiesel and aviation fuels from lignin and lipids are discussed. The synergistic modification of microbial strains, substrates, and fermentation processes is proposed for sustainable biological lignin valorization.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lu Yu, Luna Liang, Ishan Bajaj, Kendhl Seabright, David J. Keffer, Ilia N. Ivanov, Hao Chen, Sheng Dai, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Christos T. Maravelias, David P. Harper
Summary: This study utilized a one-step KOH activation method to produce ultra-high mesoporous activated carbons with a surface area of 3207 m2 g-1 and a mesopore ratio of 76%. These activated carbons were used for supercapacitors and methylene blue adsorption, showing promising results in terms of capacitance and adsorption capacity. By adjusting the process conditions, the mesopore ratio of the activated carbons could be controlled. A two-step method was also explored, resulting in different properties but with potential advantages in electrochemical performance. Techno-economic analysis demonstrated the economic viability of the one-step activation-based process.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zhongjin Zhou, Kalavathy Rajan, Tim Young, Nicole Labbe, Siqun Wang
Summary: Mechanical approach, ultrafine friction grinding (UFG), is used to produce green lignin micro-and nano-particles (LMNPs) with controlled size and micromorphology, without organic solvents. Results show that low temperature (0℃) favors size reduction of LMNPs, while high temperature (70℃) does not further decrease particle size. Varying the grinding temperature can customize the micromorphology of LMNPs. This eco-friendly method presents a viable approach for lignin valorization.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiheng Kang, Zi You, Jian Peng, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Jingdong Pang, Peitao Zhao, Yongjun Yin, Xueping Song
Summary: This study developed a highly efficient Mg-K-biochar bimetallic catalyst for glucose isomerization, providing an efficient method for cellulose valorization. The MgO could give good catalytic effect on glucose isomerization, but the catalytic effect decreased when the Mg+ was overloaded. The synergy effects of MgO and K2CO3 could enhance the pH of the reaction system and effectively catalyze the isomerization of glucose.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoxue Zhao, Bin Bian, Caoxing Huang, Chenhuan Lai, Junlong Song, Yongcan Jin, Xianzhi Meng, Arthur Ragauskas, Qiang Yong
Summary: This study investigates the influence of pretreatment lignin distribution and its interaction with enzymes on the enzymatic efficiency of cellulose. It specifically focuses on the differences in cellulase hydrolysis caused by surface lignin and residual lignin in pretreated materials. Non-destructive spectroscopies were used to examine the adsorption mechanisms of cellulase with different lignin fractions. The results show that surface lignin has minimal inhibitory effect on cellulose hydrolysis, while residual lignin significantly reduces hydrolysis yield. This study provides insights into lignin-cellulase interactions for effective conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels.