Article
Energy & Fuels
A. V. Levdansky, N. Yu. Vasilyeva, N. G. Maximov, A. A. Karacharov, V. A. Levdansky, O. Yu. Fetisova, E. V. Elsufev, A. M. Zhizhaev, B. N. Kuznetsov
Summary: Water-soluble copper-containing xylan sulfates (Cu-XS) were synthesized for the first time using the ion exchange method, and their composition and structure were studied. The interaction between copper and xylan sulfate resulted in the formation of copper (II) ions, which reduced the thermal stability of the composite.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Lian Li, Zhouyang Xiang
Summary: The study investigated the crystallization properties of acetylated xylans, revealing a significant impact of acetylation on the crystalline characteristics of xylans. Ethanol-precipitated acetylated xylans exhibited xylan diacetate crystal peaks at DS=2, while water-precipitated acetylated xylans showed the appearance of xylan diacetate crystal peaks at DS=1.96, indicating an abrupt formation of xylan diacetate crystal with changes in DS.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Shanyong Wang, Wenhua Gao, Yuhan Wang, Tao Song, Haisong Qi, Zhouyang Xiang
Summary: Acetylation plays a crucial role in the dispersing and emulsifying properties of xylan, with the natural degree of acetylation being vital for ensuring excellent water solubility and emulsifying ability.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Nita, Anamaria Irimia, Vasile Cristian Grigoras, Fanica Mustata, Nita Tudorachi, Maria Rapa, Joanna Ludwiczak, Andrzej Iwanczuk
Summary: Bio-based plasticizers derived from renewable resources can be a sustainable replacement for petrochemical-based plasticizers. Adding natural and modified oils in PLA can significantly improve processability, surface wettability and flexibility, while enhancing thermal stability.
Article
Polymer Science
Morgane Massart, Charles Dubois, Marc Boileau
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of alternative plasticizers and nucleating agents on novel celluloid-like formulations, finding that some plasticizers can improve mechanical properties beyond regular celluloid, while the nucleating agents have a clear impact on the microstructure of foamed materials.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Agbelenko Koffi, Faycal Mijiyawa, Demagna Koffi, Fouad Erchiqui, Lotfi Toubal
Summary: The study investigated the impact of filler proportion on the mechanical properties, wettability, and thermal degradation of high-density polyethylene/birch fiber composite. The results showed that as the fiber content increased, the tensile and flexural moduli also increased significantly. Additionally, the material remained hydrophobic and the thermal decomposition mass loss was proportional to the percentage of fiber.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tianxiang Wang, Yue Wang, Roberto Crocetti, Magnus Walinder
Summary: This paper aims to investigate the off-axis mechanical properties of birch plywood and establish an experimental dataset for use in the design of analytical or numerical models. Tensile, compressive and shear tests were conducted at multiple angles, revealing a strong correlation between the strength and elastic properties of birch plywood and the load-to-face-grain angle. Various models were used to predict the strength and modulus, and the influence of different parameters was analyzed. The paper also discusses the potential for predicting the on-axis shear modulus based on off-axis uniaxial tests.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Wang, Tianxiang Wang, Roberto Crocetti, Magnus Walinder
Summary: The demand for engineered wood products has been increasing due to the growth of modern timber structures recently. However, concerns about durability still exist when using timber for outdoor structures. Treatment measures, such as acetylation, have been studied to enhance the durability of timber and have shown promising results in reducing hygroscopicity and improving stability and decay resistance. Acetylation, when combined with EWPs, offers the potential to manufacture more durable and stable timber elements for load-bearing structures in outdoor environments.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Petronela Nechita, Mirela Roman (Iana Roman), Silviu Marian Nastac
Summary: Based on environmental concerns, hemicelluloses are being used as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers in food packaging. However, due to their unique molecular structure, mechanical and barrier properties of hemicellulose films and coatings are not sufficient for food packaging applications and modification is needed. This paper explores green alternatives to acetylation for enhancing the performance of hemicellulose, particularly in paper coatings or films for food packaging.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Hsin-Tzu Wang, S. Vivek Bharadwaj, Jeong-Yeh Yang, M. Thomas Curry, W. Kelley Moremen, J. Yannick Bomble, R. Breeanna Urbanowicz
Summary: The study demonstrates the importance of the major lobe of XOAT1 for xylan binding, with mutation of key residues yielding variants with different enzymatic efficiencies. Computational modeling is effective in guiding enzyme engineering to modulate xylan and redesign plant cell walls.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vladimir Alexandrovich Levdansky, Natalya Viktorovna Garyntseva, Alexander Vladimirovich Levdansky
Summary: The synthesis of polysaccharide sulfates without harmful solvents used is a serious environmental problem. A method for the synthesis of xylan sulfate using the sulfamic acid-urea melt as a sulfating agent without solvents is proposed. This method allows for rapid synthesis of xylan sulfate without contamination of toxic solvents and aggressive reagents.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Marzieh Sharifat, Davood Efhamisisi, Marie-France Thevenon, Asghar Tarmian, Mehdi Jonoobi
Summary: The combination of furfural, urea, and maleic anhydride to produce a resin for treatment of wood can improve certain properties of the wood. The treated wood showed darkened color, reduced water absorption and volumetric swelling, and increased mechanical strength. Exposure to accelerated weathering caused noticeable changes in color and roughness of the samples.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiyuan Liu, Rui Yuan, Qi Sang, Li Dang, Li Gao, Benhua Xu, Shiai Xu
Summary: This study investigates the effects of acetylation modification on the plasticization properties of citrates and provides insights into the underlying mechanisms using experimental and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. The results show that acetylated citrates have better plasticizing efficiency compared to non-acetylated citrates. The study also explores the toxicity of acetylated citrates. Overall, this research contributes to a better understanding of the plasticizing mechanisms of citrates and proposes an optimized citrate structure with higher performance.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Weronika Janik, Kerstin Ledniowska, Michal Nowotarski, Stanislaw Kudla, Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak, Urszula Stachewicz, Ewa Nowakowska-Bogdan, Ewa Sabura, Hanna Nosal-Kovalenko, Roman Turczyn, Gabriela Dudek
Summary: Chitosan-based films were modified with synthesized and commercial eco-friendly plasticizers to obtain environmentally friendly packaging materials. The alternative plasticizers showed lower hydrophilicity and superior mechanical properties compared to traditional plasticizers. Additionally, these properties were further improved after aging.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lorianne Ginot, Amal El Bakkouche, Fabrice Giusti, Sandrine Dourdain, Stephane Pellet-Rostaing
Summary: Developing greener hydrometallurgical processes by substituting conventional solvents with silica-based porous liquids for metal liquid-liquid extraction is proposed in this study. The properties of the liquid can be adjusted by varying the number of ethylene oxide units in the canopy formed by modifying sulfonated hollow silica particles with polyethoxylated fatty amines. The viscosity of the liquid is influenced by the density and size of the silica spheres. Hydrophobic porous liquids are successfully synthesized and are proven to be necessary for metal extraction in preliminary tests.
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
Microbiology
Kamyar Mogodiniyai Kasmaei, Dayanand C. Kalyani, Tom Reichenbach, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Francisco Vilaplana, Christina Divne
Summary: This study presents the crystal structure and biochemical characterization of a feruloyl esterase from Lentilactobacillus buchneri, a lactic acid bacteria strain. The feruloyl esterase exhibits narrow specificity, accommodating only single FA chains attached to arabinoxylan. This research is important for the potential applications of lactic acid bacteria-derived feruloyl esterases in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
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)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Anis N. Arzami, Danila Morais de Carvalho, Francisco Vilaplana, Frederick L. Stoddard, Kirsi S. Mikkonen
Summary: Lupin is a promising plant-based protein source with high protein and fiber content. Understanding the composition and structure of lupin fiber is crucial to increase its value. This study reveals that the fiber fraction of lupin seeds is primarily made up of pectin, and lupin seeds have the potential to be used as emulsifiers.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Secil Yilmaz-Turan, Kun Jiang, Patricia Lopez-Sanchez, Amparo Jimenez-Quero, Thomas Crouzier, Tomas S. Plivelic, Francisco Vilaplana
Summary: Biocatalytical upgrading of side streams from agricultural biomass into multifunctional materials can increase the circularity of food and material systems. In this study, we designed radical scavenging hydrogels with mechanical integrity and protective effects against reactive oxygen species using enzymatic crosslinking of arabinoxylans (AX) extracted from corn fibre. The influence of two enzymatic systems, laccase/O-2 and peroxidase/H2O2, on the biochemical structure, assembly, properties, and radical scavenging activity of the hydrogels was compared. The results showed that the enzymatic system used for crosslinking affected the network organization and properties of the hydrogels.