Article
Agricultural Engineering
Huaxing Fang, Xinyu Xie, Qiulu Chu, Wenyao Tong, Kai Song
Summary: In this study, the authors modified 1,4-butanediol (BDO) organosolv pretreatment with different additives to improve the production of fermentable sugars and lignin antioxidants from hardwood and softwood. The additives were found to have a greater impact on the pretreatment efficiency of softwood compared to hardwood. The addition of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA) introduced hydrophilic acid groups to the lignin structure, while the addition of 2-naphthol-7-sulphonate (NS) promoted lignin removal, resulting in improved cellulose accessibility for enzymatic hydrolysis. The modified BDO pretreatment achieved near complete cellulose hydrolysis and maximized sugar yield from softwood, while also producing lignin with great antioxidant activity.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Cosmin Spirchez, Veronica Japalela, Aurel Lunguleasa, Daniel Buduroi
Summary: The study showed that sawdust from Paulownia tomentosa and Paulownia elongata can be used to produce briquettes and pellets with good physical, mechanical, and energetic properties. The densities and calorific values of the products were within acceptable limits, making them suitable alternatives to other vegetable resources.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Anindita Das, Kaustubha Mohanty
Summary: In order to achieve a sustainable biorefinery, reducing the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass is crucial. This study investigated an integrated pretreatment method to recover high-quality lignin and cellulose-rich pulp. Optimization studies showed that ultrasound treatment combined with organosolv pretreatment resulted in high lignin yield and purity. Ultrasound treatment enhanced delignification and increased cellulose crystallinity, maintaining the quality of lignin. The extracted lignin contained a significant amount of β-O-4 linkages, which is favorable for downstream valorization.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Kyoung-Chan Park, Byeongho Kim, Hanna Park, Yesun Kim, Se-Yeong Park
Summary: Paulownia tomentosa was selected as an experimental wood species for the efficient production of translucent wood through a two-step process of delignification and polymer impregnation. The properties of the resulting translucent wood varied according to the wood section, with higher transmittance and haze observed in the cross-section compared to the tangential section. The bending strength of the wood was improved through epoxy impregnation.
Article
Forestry
Marius Catalin Barbu, Katharina Buresova, Eugenia Mariana Tudor, Alexander Petutschnigg
Summary: This research aims to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia sawn wood from three plantation sites in Europe. The results show that Paulownia wood from Spain has higher density and strength indicators, while Paulownia wood from Bulgaria has the widest annual ring width. Paulownia wood has potential in lightweight applications and can successfully replace expensive tropical species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antoine Duval, Geraldine Layrac, Andre van Zomeren, Arjan T. Smit, Eric Pollet, Luc Averous
Summary: In this study, two organosolv lignins were extracted and chemically modified with ethylene carbonate (EC) to create building blocks for polymer synthesis. The lignins were fractionated using a sequence of solvents based on their solubility parameters, and then reacted with EC to convert phenolic OH groups to primary aliphatic OH groups. The reactivity of the lignins decreased with increasing molar mass, leading to reduced solubility of high molar mass fragments in EC. Efforts to minimize undesirable crosslinking side reactions were successful through careful control of reaction conditions.
Article
Polymer Science
Bruno Esteves, Pedro Aires, Umut Sen, Maria da Gloria Gomes, Raquel P. F. Guine, Idalina Domingos, Jose Ferreira, Helder Viana, Luisa P. Cruz-Lopes
Summary: The properties of particleboards made with young Paulownia trees from Portuguese plantations were studied. Single layer particleboards were produced with different processing parameters and board compositions to determine the best properties for use in dry environments. Particleboards meeting the requirements for dry environment could be produced with young Paulownia wood with a density of around 0.65 g/cm(3) and a thermal conductivity of 0.115 W/mK.
Article
Forestry
Artem Ivahnov, Yuliya Sypalova, Sergey Pokryshkin, Aleksandr Kozhevnikov
Summary: The article investigates the use of organic solvents as a delignifying agent for cellulose, and finds that DMSO is the most efficient solvent to obtain cellulose from birch wood. By adjusting the concentration of the solvent, the acid catalyst, and the duration and temperature of the process, the study identifies the optimal conditions for maximum delignification of the wood. The results suggest that organosolv delignification with DMSO/Water can be proposed as an eco-friendly alternative process to kraft pulping.
Article
Forestry
Marius Catalin Barbu, Eugenia Mariana Tudor, Katharina Buresova, Alexander Petutschnigg
Summary: The aim of this study is to analyze the properties of Paulownia tomentosa x elongata plantation wood from Serbia. The results show that most properties are improved when the samples were taken from upper parts of the tree and from the near bark spot. This study stresses the influence, in short-rotation Paulownia timber, of indicators such as juvenile and mature wood and height variation on the physical and mechanical properties of sawn wood.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arjan T. Smit, Marlen Verges, Peter Schulze, Andre van Zomeren, Heike Lorenz
Summary: The scaling up of acetone organosolv fractionation process from lab-scale to pilot-scale showed similar performance. However, improvements are still needed in pulp washing efficiency and recovery of lignin from the aqueous hemicellulose stream.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tao Wang, Jianli Tan, Yan He, Yuanyuan Ge, Xuemin Cui
Summary: This paper presents a simple and cost-effective pretreatment process for delignification of biomass using geopolymers. The geopolymer with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 4.4 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. Under mild reaction conditions, the delignification rates of woody and herbaceous biomass increased significantly. Furthermore, the low-alkali black liquor produced by this process eliminates the need for alkali recovery. This study demonstrates the potential application of geopolymers in selective delignification of biomass.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paula Rodriguez-Seoane, Maria Dolores Torres, Maria Jesus Gonzalez-Munoz, Esteban Sinde-Stompel, Herminia Dominguez
Summary: Bio-hydrogels were developed using autohydrolysis extracts of Hericium erinaceus and Paulownia elongata x fortunei. Optimal extraction temperature for Hericium erinaceus was found to be 210 degrees C, resulting in maximum phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. The addition of Paulownia extracts improved the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels, with the strongest enhancement observed in hydrogels prepared with extracts treated at 160 degrees C enriched with Paulownia petioles liquors.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Jae-Ik Jo, Seong-Hyun Kim, Do-Hoon Kim, Byantara Darsan Purusatama, Intan Fajar Suri, Go-Un Yang, Jong-Ho Kim, Fauzi Febrianto, Seung-Hwan Lee, Nam-Hun Kim
Summary: The study examined the effects of liquid water and water vapor absorption, extractives content, and hot-water extraction on wood using Korean and ASTM standards. Results showed that extractives significantly influence the hygroscopicity and shrinkage of Paulownia wood.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arjan T. Smit, Thomas Dezaire, Luke A. Riddell, Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx
Summary: Lignin partial depolymerization by reduction (PDR) is a strategy to modify the molar mass and heterogeneity of technical lignin, and increase its reactivity in polymer applications. The process aims to break the remaining lignin beta-O-4 linkages, reducing the molar mass of large lignin fragments. The PDR process provides control over key lignin characteristics, allowing for tailored biobased polymer properties.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jiazhao Chen, Xuesong Tan, Changlin Miao, Yu Zhang, Zhenhong Yuan, Xinshu Zhuang
Summary: The novel APW process using acetone, phenoxyethanol, and water for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass showed efficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose, good retention of cellulose, and successful recovery of hemicellulose and lignin. Furthermore, this process also demonstrated effective fractionation of various biomass sources with high cellulose and hemicellulose recovery rates exceeding 80%.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
