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The Amazon Region (AR), with its vast biodiversity and rich natural resources, presents a unique opportunity for the development of sustainable polymer composites (PCs) reinforced with residues from both timber and agro-extractivism industries. This study explores the potential of Amazonian residues, such as sawdust, wood shavings, and agro-industrial by-products such as açaí seeds and Brazil nut shells, to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and environmental properties of polymer composites. By integrating these natural materials into polymer matrices, significant improvements in the composite performance were achieved, including increased tensile strength, thermal stability, and biodegradability. The study also highlights the environmental and economic benefits of using these residues, promoting waste reduction and supporting a circular economy in the region. Through case studies and detailed analyses, this study demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of incorporating Amazonian residues into composites for a wide range of applications, from construction materials to consumer goods. This approach not only adds value to the by-products of Amazonian industries, but also contributes to the global effort toward sustainable material development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a brief bibliometric investigation of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba biomass (Copernicia prunifera), a palm tree native to northeastern Brazil belonging to the Arecaceae family. The objective was to analyze the scientific production and methods used to evaluate the kinetic parameters of biomass pyrolysis. An analysis was conducted using the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, and VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The methodology allows the generation of clusters and tables of scientific production, including authors, co-authors, affiliations, institutions, journals, and keywords. The search yielded 1983 articles, and after the application of exclusion criteria, 919 articles were retained, forming the basis for the bibliometric analysis. It provided an overview of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba research and identified areas that require further study. It also identified which universities and researchers have devoted the most effort to this area of research, the key findings, and areas that require further investment to complement existing research. Additionally, the study indicated the suitability of the Friedman method for determining kinetic parameters in biomass pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global transition to renewable energy has amplified the need for sustainable aviation fuels. This study investigates hexanol, a biomass-derived alcohol, as an alternative fuel for small-scale gas turbines. Experimental trials were conducted on a JETPOL GTM-160 turbine, assessing blends of 25% (He25) and 50% (He50) hexanol with kerosene (JET A) under rotational velocities ranging from 40,000 to 110,000 RPM. The parameters measured included thrust-specific fuel consumption (TSFC), turbine inlet and outlet velocities, and the emission indices of NOx and CO. The results demonstrated that the He25 and He50 blends achieved comparable thermal efficiency to pure JET A at high rotational velocities, despite requiring higher fuel flows due to hexanol's lower heating value. CO emissions decreased significantly at higher velocities, reflecting improved combustion efficiency with hexanol blends, while NOx emissions exhibited a slight increase, attributed to the oxygen content of the fuel. This study contributes a novel analysis of hexanol-kerosene blends in gas turbines, offering insights into their operational and emission characteristics. These findings underscore hexanol's potential as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel, aligning with global efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependency and carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of polypropylene plastic tubes generated by producing seedlings of forest species promotes negative impacts on the environment and human health. These factors have motivated the search for biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the efficiency and quality of tubes made from particulate waste from cashew nut shells and beeswax in the development of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. The sustainable tubes were produced using a natural beeswax matrix with proportions of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% cashew nut particles. The chemical characterization of the material was performed. The tubes were made in a handmade cardboard mold and P80 wood sandpaper, 35 mm × 125 mm (diameter × length). The quality of the seedlings was evaluated using the Dickson quality index (DQI). The results showed that the cashew nutshell particles present in their chemical composition have values of 6.83 g kg−1 of nitrogen (N), 0.60 g kg−1 of phosphorus (P), and 1.93 g kg−1 of potassium (K). The quality assessment found that all biodegradable tubes had higher DQI values than polypropylene tubes, emphasizing the treatment with 40% of cashew peel particles, which showed a DQI of 0.14, while the polypropylene tube presented a value of 0.09. Therefore, biodegradable tubes seem a sustainable and efficient alternative for replacing polypropylene tubes in cultivating forest seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current treatment of wastewater has unintended negative environmental impacts. Conventional methods frequently involve the use of harmful chemicals, generate disinfectant by-products, consume significant amounts of energy, and produce wastes requiring additional efforts for safe disposal. Water stress exacerbated by contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and climate change, is further straining aging treatment systems. A slow sand filter (SSF), with ligno-cellulosic layers, offers a novel, promising, and economic alternative for wastewater reclamation. This review examines the key SSF characteristics, obtained from recent studies, and explores the use of sustainable materials such as ligno-cellulose, as a treatment companion. The optimal SSF design includes a bed depth of >0.6 m, particle effective size (D10) between 0.15 mm and 0.40 mm, and a uniformity coefficient (CU grain size ratio) of ≤2.0. It is established that SSF's characteristic biolayer of microorganisms enhances contaminant removal via biodegradation. While biofilm-based removal of micropollutants is a proven mechanism, further research is needed to address CEC challenges. For example, the inclusion of sawdust in SSF filter layers can reduce energy consumption compared to conventional methods and can be recycled through thermal conversion, aligning with circular economy principles. This approach has the potential to improve wastewater treatment in emerging economies, contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainability Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work presents the reformulation of a composite based on high-density polyethylene obtained through the recycling of blow-molded containers (rHDPE) with natural fiber residues (wood sawdust). This material is technically and industrially known as WPC (wood plastic composite). The original formulation of this material contains 34% high-density polyethylene and 60% sawdust by weight fraction, while the remaining components include additives and coupling agents such as wax (Coupling Agent TPW 813 for plastic woods), stearic acid, and color pigment. The composite material was processed using the profile extrusion method, from which samples were obtained to conduct various experimental tests. The mechanical analysis revealed that both the strength and Young's modulus of the tensile and flexural properties slightly increased with the addition of sawdust to the composite. Additionally, the stiffness was higher compared to high-density polyethylene, indicating a direct relationship between these properties and the amount of sawdust incorporated. Besides this, other characterization methods were performed on the material, including density, hardness, and compression tests, as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), natural and accelerated aging tests, Vicat softening temperature, and heat deflection temperature analysis (HDT). The initial evaluation provides a guide to enhance the most important properties with the aim of using the extruded profiles as pergolas in the real estate sector. Therefore, new formulations are developed with the assistance of Minitab 21 software, maintaining a constant proportion of materials that do not affect the mechanical properties, such as wax, stearic acid, and color pigment. Once the formulations are made, each one is characterized through tensile tests to determine which has the best performance. The formulation with the highest strength is re-characterized using the techniques mentioned in the starting material to obtain a material with the most optimal characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research suggests a production method of insulating composites created from lignocellulosic agricultural biomass with fungal mycelium as a binder agent and offers a deeper investigation of their thermophysical properties. Particularly, the samples were meticulously evaluated for density and thermal conductivity. The function was built on the suggestion by the authors regarding the thermal conductivity-weight ratio indicator. The metric was initially introduced to assess the correlation between these parameters and was also applied to qualitatively evaluate the biocomposite among other commonly used natural insulations. An applied polynomial trend analysis indicated that the most effective densities for the wheat, hemp, and flax, which were 60, 85, and 105 kg·m−3 respectively. It was determined that the optimal density for wheat and hemp composites corresponded to values of 0.28 and 0.20 W−1·kg−1·m4·K of the coefficient, respectively. These values were superior to those revealed in other common natural insulating materials, such as cork, cotton stalks, hempcrete, timber, etc. As a result, the proposed insulating material may offer numerous opportunities for application in industrial settings of civil engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Especially, the processing and utilization of biomass-based material is closely related to the vessel, e.g. the flow of vapour and additive. It is conventional that vessels in most plants can influence on water and nutrients transport between adjacent cells, which could just infer to be important in the wood-based panel industries. In this work, a complete characterization of vessels and pits is presented for three conventional biomasses in wood-based panel: poplar (Populus deltoides) (P), moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) (B), and the fruit shell of oil camellia (Camellia Oleifera) (FS_OC). Every material is analyzed by combining several techniques including: light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and surveying calculations from resin casting. The results show that among the three biomass materials, B has a significantly larger vessel width (164.8 ± 6.0 μm for B, 2.2 ± 6.2 μm for P, 10.0 ± 0.8 μm for FS_OC) and smaller inclination angle of the perforation plates (6.8° for B, 44.7° for P), which is more conductive to improving moisture transfer between the vessels. The vessel length of P varies widely from 676.8 μm to 1025.2 μm, which is related to its seasonal growth. By resin casting analysis, more differences in the morphology and distribution of pits in the vessel walls were observed between the three species. Such as, For B, there are numerous pits between vessel cells, while very few to none between vessel and parenchyma cells or fiber. In addition to pits, B and FS_OC also have spiral thickening structures on their vessel walls. The pit membrane is an elliptical shape in P, while slit-like shape in FS_OC and a combination of both elliptical and slit-like shape in bamboo. The unique microstructural characteristics of vessels is related to the individual plant growth traits, which is the basis for biomass-based material processing and utilization.

Renewable and sustainable biofuel production, such as biobutanol, is becoming increasingly popular as a substitute for non-renewable and depleted petrol fuel. Many researchers have studied how to produce butanol cheaply by considering appropriate feedstock materials and bioprocess technologies. The production of biobutanol through acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) is highly sought after around the world because of its sustainable supply and lack of competition with food. The purpose of this study is to present the current biobutanol production research and to analyse the biobutanol research conducted during 2006 to 2023. The keyword used in this study is "Biobutanol," and the relevant data was extracted from the Web of Science database (WoS). According to the results, institutions and scholars from the People's Republic of China, the USA, and India have the highest number of cited papers across a broad spectrum of topics including acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation, biobutanol, various pretreatment techniques, and pervaporation. The success of biobutanol fermentation from biomass depends on the ability of the fermentation operation to match the microbial behaviour along with the appropriate bioprocessing strategies to improve the entire process to be suitable for industrial scale. Based on the review data, we will look at the biobutanol technologies and appropriate strategies that have been developed to improve biobutanol production from renewable biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five different lignocellulosic raw materials (coconut shells, Moso bamboo, sawtooth oak, Chinese fir, and Masson pine) were used to prepare activated carbons by steam activation at 850 ◦C to evaluate the effects of their structures on physical activation. The chemical compositions, botanic forms, and pore structures of the lignocellulose-based charcoal samples were systematically characterized by proximate and ultimate analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury injection porosimetry. It was found that the rate of the activation reaction between charcoal and steam is determined by the porosity of the precursor. Pore structure results show that the steam activation of coconut shell and bamboo charcoals primarily produced micropores, thus yielding microporous activated carbon materials with just a few mesopores, even following a high burn-off of >66%. The steam activation of sawtooth oak charcoals produced mainly micropores at a low burn-off of <50% and both micropores and mesopores at a high burn-off of >50%. The steam activation of Chinese fir and Masson pine charcoals produced mainly mesopores at a burn-off of 0–80%. These mesopores were remarkably broadened to >20 nm on extending the activation time, resulting in a high vitamin B12 (VB12) adsorption capacity of ~530 mg/g. In conclusion, the raw lignocellulosic materials used as precursors have a decisive effect on the development of pore structures in activated carbon materials obtained through physical activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, the presence of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on the surface of the San Jose Dam located in the city of San Luis Potosi, S.L.P, Mexico, was monitored and mapped. The monitoring was conducted for 2 years (2018–2020) with remote sensing data from OLI Landsat 8 sensors, based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The results demonstrated the capability and accuracy of this method, where it was observed that the aboveground cover area, proliferation, and distribution of water hyacinth are influenced by climatic and anthropogenic factors during the four seasons of the year. As part of a sustainable environmental control of this invasive species, the use of water hyacinth (WH) root (RO), stem (ST), and leaf (LE) components as adsorbent material for Pb(II) present in aqueous solution was proposed. The maximum adsorption capacity was observed at pH 5 and 25 °C and was 107.3, 136.8, and 120.8 mg g−1 for RO, ST, and LE, respectively. The physicochemical characterization of WH consisted of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 physisorption, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), charge distribution, and zero charge point (pHPZC). Due to the chemical nature of WH, several Pb(II) adsorption mechanisms were proposed such as electrostatic attractions, ion exchange, microprecipitation, and π-cation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Given escalating environmental concerns and stricter regulations, there’s a pressing need for sustainable materials. Eco-composites, which blend natural fibers with polymer matrices for reinforcement, are gaining traction. This study stands out by employing Australian royal palm stem fibers within a polystyrene matrix for eco-composites. The research involved assessing thermal stability, quantifying lignin/carbohydrate content, and measuring moisture levels. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to examine fiber structure. Results from evaluations of thermal and mechanical properties underscore the high-performance reinforcement potential of Australian royal palm fibers, suggesting their suitability for various eco-composite applications. Beyond meeting the demand for sustainable materials, this project introduces an innovative use of these fibers, broadening their potential applications and advocating for greener, socially responsible industry practices.

This study presents a brief bibliometric investigation of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba biomass (Copernicia prunifera), a palm tree native to northeastern Brazil belonging to the Arecaceae family. The objective was to analyze the scientific production and methods used to evaluate the kinetic parameters of biomass pyrolysis. An analysis was conducted using the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, and VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The methodology allows the generation of clusters and tables of scientific production, including authors, co-authors, affiliations, institutions, journals, and keywords. The search yielded 1983 articles, and after the application of exclusion criteria, 919 articles were retained, forming the basis for the bibliometric analysis. It provided an overview of thermogravimetric pyrolysis of carnauba research and identified areas that require further study. It also identified which universities and researchers have devoted the most effort to this area of research, the key findings, and areas that require further investment to complement existing research. Additionally, the study indicated the suitability of the Friedman method for determining kinetic parameters in biomass pyrolysis.

Microbial oils can be used as an alternative sustainable and renewable feedstock to fossil reserves for producing lubricants and polyurethane materials. Two oleaginous yeasts were grown on non-detoxified corn stover hydrolysate supplemented with corn steep liquor and mineral medium in shake flasks. Trichosporon oleaginosus DSM 11815 displayed the highest lipid production. This strain was further cultivated in a bench bioreactor, using the same culture medium, under a batch regime. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the T. oleaginosus culture using the dual staining technique (SYBR Green and PI) for cell membrane integrity detection. Values of 42.28% (w/w) and 0.06 g/Lh lipid content and lipid productivity, respectively, were recorded for T. oleaginosus cultivated in the bench bioreactor operated under a batch regime. During the cultivation, most of the yeast cells maintained their integrity. T. oleaginosus has the potential to be used as an oil microbial source for a wide range of industrial applications. In addition, it is robust in adverse conditions such as lignocellulosic hydrolysate exposure and oxygen-limiting conditions. Flow cytometry is a powerful and useful tool for monitoring yeast cultivations on lignocellulosic hydrolysates for cell count, size, granularity, and membrane integrity detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid growth of global population, meeting the increasing demand for food has become a significant challenge. This challenge is further compounded by limited arable land and the necessity to address the nutritional needs of both humans and animals. However, the utilization of straw biomass, which is readily available as an agricultural by‐product, presents a sustainable solution to this problem. Microbial fermentation has emerged as a highly effective method for converting non‐food biomass into protein, particularly known as single‐cell protein (SCP). Compared to traditional protein sources, SCP production through microbial fermentation is rapid and efficient, and requires minimal land resources. This review provides a comprehensive review of the research advancements in SCP from agricultural biomass, including pretreatment methods, microbial strains, and fermentation processes involved in the bioconversion of straw biomass. Due to the complexity of straw‐based biomass (SBB), it is essential to customize industrial strains and optimize the fermentation process to achieve the highest protein yield and productivity. Additionally, improving the compatibility between tailored processes and cost‐effective industrial strains can lead to the production of protein substitutes that are not only highly nutritious but also economically viable. Hence, the application of SCP derived from SBB presents a dual solution by reducing the need for managing agricultural residues and providing a sustainable source of protein. However, the production of SCP from SBB also has some limitations, such as protein‐synthesis efficiency, production cost, and difficulty to scale‐up the production process. In the future, there is great potential for significant advancements in the targeted conversion of SBB into protein by customizing high‐performance microbial strains. Several sensor and machine learning technologies will predict and monitor real‐time dynamic changes in the fermentation process of SBB, offering an opportunity to improve the production of sustainable SCP in an environmentally friendly and precise manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating global demand for polymer products and the consequent disposal challenge necessitate technological and sustainable solutions. Recent advances in the development of materials used in 3D printing equipment are described in this review, with a focus on new biocomposite materials. The investigation delves into biocomposites comprising PLA and its blends with other polymers, reinforced by plant fibers, with a particular focus on research conducted over the last five years. The information related to the raw materials' physical, chemical, and processing properties necessary for creating biocomposite filament and printed parts were summarized. The best results in terms of tensile and flexural strength were presented and discussed, signposting future research avenues and desirable objectives. The findings elucidate that the inclusion of plant fibers led to a reduction in mechanical strength relative to pure PLA; however, when smaller particle sizes of plant fibers were added in volumes below 10%, it resulted in improved performance. Moreover, physical and/or chemical pretreatment of fibers, along with the isolation of cellulose fibrils, emerged as pivotal strategies for bolstering mechanical strengths. Noteworthy are the promising prospects presented by the incorporation of additives, while the refinement of printing parameters is key to improving the tensile and flexural strength of printed components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Lignin is a naturally occurring and aromatic biopolymer with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Thus, in this work, the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lignin to produce ultra-light aerogels for biomedical applications was studied. Aerogels containing varying amounts of lignin (0–30 wt%) and different concentrations of the crosslinking agent Fe3+ (25–100 mM) were developed. Results The different bioaerogels were fully characterized and their physical, mechanical and bioactive properties analyzed. It was observed that the bioaerogels soluble fraction tends to decrease as the lignin content increases for the different Fe3+ concentrations, due to lignin–CNF interactions through hydrogen bonds. The bioaerogels containing lignin showed remarkable radical scavenging activity as the DPPH concentration decreased with time. This confirms the benefits of including lignin in bioaerogels to impart antioxidant properties. To study the suitability of the produced bioaerogels for controlled drug release, the release of tetracycline (TC) was studied. All of the bioaerogels released TC in a sustained manner for 6 h and presented similar profiles. However, the bioaerogels containing higher concentrations of crosslinker showed a higher release of TC. The TC loading conferred clear antimicrobial activity against S. aureus as expected, unlike the insignificant antimicrobial activity of the bioaerogels without TC. The biocompatibility of the samples was demonstrated for all materials produced (with and without TC loading) by the Kruskal–Wallis test with multiple comparisons. After observation of cell morphology, no significant differences were evident suggesting that the CNF–lignin bioaerogels present optimal biocompatibility for use in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry. Conclusions The CNF–lignin bioaerogels presented in this work highlights their promising application as biomedical applications, such as wound dressings due to their biocompatibility, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, as well as their swelling and solubility properties. Graphical Abstract

Sugarcane leaf waste, a byproduct of the growing global sugar industry, challenges agricultural waste management. This study explores its potential for methane production via anaerobic digestion. A microbial pre-hydrolysis, using lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, enhanced soluble chemical oxygen demand at an optimal initial substrate concentration of 40 g-volatile solid/L. Comparative analysis with untreated and bioaugmented leaves revealed the pre-hydrolyzed leaves achieved the highest methane production rate (MPR) at 14.0 ± 0.5 mL-CH4/L·d, surpassing others by 1.47 and 1.67 times. Two continuous stirred tank reactors were employed to assess the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT). Results showed a stable methane production with an HRT of 25 days, yielding high MPRs: 88.70 ± 0.63 mL-CH4/L·d from pre-hydrolyzed sugarcane leaves and 82.57 ± 1.22 mL-CH4/L·d from microbial consortium-augmented leaves. A 25-day HRT fosters high microbial diversity with Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobiota dominance, indicating favorable conditions. Conversely, a 20-day HRT results in lower diversity due to unfavorable factors like low pH during organic overloading, leading to increased concentrations of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid, with Firmicutes as the predominant phylum. This study highlights sugarcane leaf waste's potential as a valuable resource for sustainable methane production.

This study describes the production, characterization and application of an endoglucanase from Penicillium roqueforti using lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes as the substrate during solid-state fermentation. The endoglucanase was generated after culturing with different agro-industrial wastes for 96 h without any pretreatment. The highest activity was obtained at 50 °C and pH 4.0. Additionally, the enzyme showed stability in the temperature and pH ranges of 40–80 °C and 4.0–5.0, respectively. The addition of Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Cu2+ increased enzymatic activity. Halotolerance as a characteristic of the enzyme was confirmed when its activity increased by 35% on addition of 2 M NaCl. The endoglucanase saccharified sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell, wheat bran, cocoa fruit shell, and cocoa seed husk. The Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize fermentable sugar production by evaluating the following parameters: time, substrate, and enzyme concentration. Under ideal conditions, 253.19 mg/g of fermentable sugars were obtained following the saccharification of wheat bran, which is 41.5 times higher than that obtained without optimizing. This study presents a thermostable, halotolerant endoglucanase that is resistant to metal ions and organic solvents with the potential to be applied in producing fermentable sugars for manufacturing biofuels from agro-industrial wastes. Penicillum roqueforti ATCC 10110 produced an endoglucanase in culture media containing only agro-industrial wastes. The exploitation of agro-industrial wastes increases the added economic value of these materials and facilitates the management of solid wastes. SEM confirmed the structural changes in the waste biomass induced by saccharification. The Box-Behnken design, used for saccharification optimization, increased the production of fermentable sugars by 41.5 times without any pretreatment of the agro-industrial wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine how different types of alkaline pretreatment influence the properties of waste almond and hazelnut nutshell, as well as their compatibility with model inorganic geopolymer matrixes for the formation of biocomposites with potential use in civil engineering. For alkaline pretreatment, 3, 6 and 9% NaOH water solutions and milk of lime were used under different temperature and time conditions. The rise in the crystallinity index was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, while the corroboration of the removal of amorphous and undesirable components was demonstrated through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the pretreatments was confirmed via simultaneous differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis, and the positive change in the morphology of the surface of the waste nutshell (WN) and the deposition of the desired phases was established using scanning electron microscopy. Surface free energy and adhesion parameters were calculated using the Owens, Wendt, Rabel and Kaelble method for WN as fillers and geopolymers as model novel inorganic binders. This research indicates that the 6% NaOH treatment is the optimal pretreatment process for preparing WN as the filler in combination with potassium and metakaolin geopolymer that has been cured at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic materials are composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and are one of the most abundant biopolymers in marine environments. The extent of the involvement of marine microorganisms in lignin degradation and their contribution to the oceanic carbon cycle remains elusive. In this study, a novel lignin-degrading bacterial strain, LCG003, was isolated from intertidal seawater in Lu Chao Harbor, East China Sea. Phylogenetically, strain LCG003 was affiliated with the genus Aliiglaciecola within the family Alteromonadaceae. Metabolically, strain LCG003 contains various extracellular (signal-fused) glycoside hydrolase genes and carbohydrate transporter genes and can grow with various carbohydrates as the sole carbon source, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, rhamnose, maltose, stachyose and cellulose. Moreover, strain LCG003 contains many genes of amino acid and oligopeptide transporters and extracellular peptidases and can grow with peptone as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, indicating a proteolytic lifestyle. Notably, strain LCG003 contains a gene of dyp-type peroxidase and strain-specific genes involved in the degradation of 4-hydroxy-benzoate and vanillate. We further confirmed that it can decolorize aniline blue and grow with lignin as the sole carbon source. Our results indicate that the Aliiglaciecola species can depolymerize and mineralize lignocellulosic materials and potentially play an important role in the marine carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study investigating the biodegradation of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/wheat bran (WB) biocomposites. Injection mouldings were subjected to biodegradation in compost-filled bioreactors under controlled humidity and temperature conditions. The effects of composting time (14, 42 and 70 days) and WB mass content (10%, 30% and 50% wt.) on the structural and thermal properties of the samples were investigated. Measurements were made by infrared spectral analysis, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and gel permeation chromatography. Results demonstrated that both the thermal and structural properties of the samples depended greatly on the biodegradation time. Specifically, their crystallinity degree increased significantly while molecular mass sharply decreased with biodegradation time, whereas their thermal resistance only showed a slight increase. This resulted from enzymatic hydrolysis that led to the breakdown of ester bonds in polymer chains. It was also found that a higher WB content led to a higher mass loss in the biocomposite samples during biodegradation and affected their post-biodegradation properties. A higher bran content increased the degree of crystallinity of the biocomposite samples but reduced their thermal resistance and molecular mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential use of lignocellulosic material for Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) foils in high-energy physics experiments. A 50 µm thick lignocellulosic film was created using a scattering method, and both surfaces were coated with a 2 µm thick copper electrode layer. Electrical characterization studies were conducted to assess the suitability of lignocellulosic material in GEM detectors. To ensure consistent atmospheric conditions during measurements, a special chamber was designed to monitor temperature and humidity values over time using an SHT3x sensor module and Rense Temperature/Humidity Meter. Electrical measurements were performed using a Keithley 4200 semiconductor characterization system, and I-V curves showing the current-voltage relationship under different atmospheric conditions were plotted. The results demonstrate the potential for developing sustainable and efficient detectors for various high-energy physics experiments using GEM detectors with lignocellulosic foils. This study comprehensively presents the advantages and disadvantages of using lignocellulosic material in GEM foils and contributes to the development of more environmentally friendly alternatives for GEM detector manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrusion, a physical pretreatment, is normally used for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials to improve biogas production. Wheat straw (WS) and its solid digestate (digested wheat straw, WSD) were selected to evaluate the effect of extrusion on lignocellulose structure and biogas production from WS and WSD. The WS and WSD were extruded and then were used for biogas production at (37 ± 1) °C in a batch model. The results showed that the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of WS and WSD were 28%, 25%, and 14% and 30%, 25%, and 22%, respectively, while the cumulative biogas yields of WS and WSD were 179 and 57 mL/g TSadded (total solid, TS). After extrusion treatment, the cumulative biogas yields of WS and WSD were increased by 23% and 152%, respectively, while the cumulative methane yields of WS and WSD were increased by 27% and 192%, respectively, compared to the unextruded biomass. The results of scanning electron microscope and specific surface area (SSA) indicated that the lignocellulose structure in WSD suffered greater destruction and the increase in the SSA in WSD was 51-percentage points compared to WS pretreated by extrusion. Therefore, it is technically feasible to use extrusion treatment as a pretreatment for the reuse of digested wheat straw for biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lignin is a naturally occurring and aromatic biopolymer with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Thus, in this work, the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lignin to produce ultra-light aerogels for biomedical applications was studied. Aerogels containing varying amounts of lignin (0–30 wt%) and different concentrations of the crosslinking agent Fe3+ (25–100 mM) were developed. Results: The different bioaerogels were fully characterized and their physical, mechanical and bioactive properties analyzed. It was observed that the bioaerogels soluble fraction tends to decrease as the lignin content increases for the different Fe3+ concentrations, due to lignin–CNF interactions through hydrogen bonds. The bioaerogels containing lignin showed remarkable radical scavenging activity as the DPPH concentration decreased with time. This confirms the benefits of including lignin in bioaerogels to impart antioxidant properties. To study the suitability of the produced bioaerogels for controlled drug release, the release of tetracycline (TC) was studied. All of the bioaerogels released TC in a sustained manner for 6 h and presented similar profiles. However, the bioaerogels containing higher concentrations of crosslinker showed a higher release of TC. The TC loading conferred clear antimicrobial activity against S. aureus as expected, unlike the insignificant antimicrobial activity of the bioaerogels without TC. The biocompatibility of the samples was demonstrated for all materials produced (with and without TC loading) by the Kruskal–Wallis test with multiple comparisons. After observation of cell morphology, no significant differences were evident suggesting that the CNF–lignin bioaerogels present optimal biocompatibility for use in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry. Conclusions: The CNF–lignin bioaerogels presented in this work highlights their promising application as biomedical applications, such as wound dressings due to their biocompatibility, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, as well as their swelling and solubility properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is considered by many as the ultimate barrier that impedes biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals. Several delignification strategies have been developed so far, but alkaline extraction remains the most widely used. However, this technology has a high chemical demand, consumes large amounts of water, and generates effluents that are hard to handle. Organosolv pulping is a good option for such application, but the impact of solvent losses and harmful emissions may be unsustainable. To this end, the use of greener alternatives such as water, biobased solvents, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents, under sub- or supercritical conditions, may pave the road for the development of sustainable biorefineries.

In the development of sustainable products, lignocellulosic materials with hydrophobic properties can be functionalized and used as reinforcement, especially in bio-composite materials, as well as in various applications such as packaging, water-repellent and self-renewing materials. This study is aimed to improve the surface properties and triboelectric properties of wood materials. Functionalized wood veneers were prepared by impregnating 3 different wood veneers (beech, mahogany and oak) with 5 different chemical solutions (cationic cellulose, cationic starch, polyethyleneimine, sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose). Structural characterization of the functional wood materials obtained was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) technique, wettability and surface properties were examined by contact angle measurements, and morphological properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The triboelectric properties of the devices prepared using functionalized wood materials were investigated. As a result, it was determined that the hydrophobic properties of wood materials were improved and showed triboelectric properties. It demonstrates that functionalized wood materials can be used to power low-power electronic devices.

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The global production of fossil-based plastics has reached critical levels, and their substitution with bio-based polymers is an urgent requirement. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biopolymer that can be produced via microbial cultivation, but efficient microorganisms and low-cost substrates are required. Halomonas boliviensis LC1, a moderately halophilic bacterium, is an effective PHB producer, and hydrolysates of the residual stalks of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) can be considered a cheap source of sugars for microbial fermentation processes in quinoa-producing countries. In this study, H. boliviensis LC1 was adapted to a cellulosic hydrolysate of quinoa stalks obtained via acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification. The adapted strain was cultivated in hydrolysates and synthetic media, each of them with two different initial concentrations of glucose. Cell growth, glucose consumption, and PHB formation during cultivation were assessed. The cultivation results showed an initial lag in microbial growth and glucose consumption in the quinoa hydrolysates compared to cultivation in synthetic medium, but after 33 h, the values were comparable for all media. Cultivation in hydrolysates with an initial glucose concentration of 15 g/L resulted in a higher glucose consumption rate (0.15 g/(L h) vs. 0.14 g/(L h)) and volumetric productivity of PHB (14.02 mg/(L h) vs. 10.89 mg/(L h)) than cultivation in hydrolysates with 20 g/L as the initial glucose concentration. During most of the cultivation time, the PHB yield on initial glucose was higher for cultivation in synthetic medium than in hydrolysates. The produced PHBs were characterized using advanced analytical techniques, such as high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). HPSEC revealed that the molecular weight of PHB produced in the cellulosic hydrolysate was lower than that of PHB produced in synthetic medium. TGA showed higher thermal stability for PHB produced in synthetic medium than for that produced in the hydrolysate. The results of the other characterization techniques displayed comparable features for both PHB samples. The presented results show the feasibility of producing PHB from quinoa stalks with H. boliviensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodegradation of lignocellulosic materials in nature is a complex process. To investigate the fungal competition patterns and degradation on Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), four wood decay fungi, including white-rot and brown-rot fungi, were selected as the test fungi in this research. Bamboo blocks were pre-colonized by different fungi then paired to form dual cultures. The results showed different competition outcomes among these fungi on potato dextrose agar, forest soil, and bamboo. Whit-rot fungus Trametes versicolor was highly competitive on bamboo where it could replace brown-rot fungi, and the biodegradation of bamboo was more severe in dual cultures, especially in the combination of Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum. The degradation of the bamboo components also differed with the monocultures and dual cultures. In monocultures of brown-rot fungi, cellulose was the most severely degraded component among the three primary components; while in monocultures of white-rot fungi, lignin was the most severely degraded component instead. The degradation of hemicellulose and lignin was more significant than that of cellulose in the dual cultures containing white-rot fungi. These results suggest that dual culturing of decay fungi has the potential to improve biomass utilization of bamboo and reduce the chemical treatment cost of raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch foam is a completely biodegradable material that can replace petroleum‐based foams. However, starch foams are sensitive to water and have poor mechanical properties. Khlum fiber that had been alkali‐treated for 1 h (KF‐1h) showed excellent properties as a reinforcement of starch foam. KF‐1h was added to starch at loadings of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%. The starch foam composite reinforced with 1 wt% of KF‐1h presented uniformly distributed cells of uniform size, and produced the highest values for flexural stress at maximum load (3.43 MPa), hardness (92.50), and water contact angle (122°) of the studied foams. The modulus of the starch foam composite increased with increments of KF‐1h content but the density and color of the starch foam and the biodegradation process in soil were only slightly affected. This work also demonstrated a practical application of the proposed starch foam composite as a biodegradable food container. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fossil fuels are the main sources of water, soil, and air pollution that threaten human life and other organisms on Earth. Nowadays, the climate change and pollution are critical issues; however, many countries still use polluting fossil fuels. Therefore, finding alternative and clean fuels is a concern for many environmental activists and scientists. One of these alternative fuels is ethanol, which ignites cleaner due to its higher hydroxyl groups and lack of sulfur and nitrogen in its formula. Ethanol can be produced both chemically and biologically. Till now, four generations of bioethanol have been introduced. In the second generation, lignocellulosic materials are used as the main source for bioethanol production. These materials are frequently found in plant biomasses and agricultural residues, which are inexpensive and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, it is of importance to improve the production process and find novel techniques that increase final yields and process efficacy. In this study, the structural properties of lignocellulosic materials, pretreatment techniques, the second-generation bioethanol production process, and the effective bacterial and fungal strains in this procedure are investigated.Materials and Methods: This review study is a narrative review in which a logical search approach was selected. For data analysis, a comparative approach between the different methods was expressed in each section.Results: Among four bioethanol generations, the second generation has received remarkable attention due to its non-competition with human food and its industrial potential rather than other generations. Therefore, it is of particular significance to improve the production process of bioethanol second generation. A deep understanding of lignocellulosic components, pretreatment methods optimization, and increasing hydrolysis and fermentation processes efficiency make bioethanol production industrially possible and cost-effective.Discussion and Conclusion: However, despite extensive studies to select the most suitable microorganisms during the fermentation stage, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis are still at the forefront of studies.

Free formaldehyde is a carcinogen whose emission reduction in particleboard has been studied recently to mitigate this environmental and human health problem. One alternative to reduce the emission of formaldehyde in particleboards is by using adhesives produced from natural sources. Cardanol-formaldehyde is an environmentally friendly adhesive made with cashew nut liquid, a byproduct from the cashew chain. This work aimed to produce particleboard using cardanol-formaldehyde in place of urea. In addition, different proportions of bean straw wastes were used to replace pine wood. The combination of eco-friendly adhesive and lignocellulosic waste particles could result in a product that meets market demands while being environmentally nonaggressive. Cardanol-formaldehyde promoted a higher modulus of elasticity (MOE) (1172 MPa) and modulus of rupture (MOR) (4.39 MPa) about panels glued with urea–formaldehyde, which presented a MOE of 764 MPa and MOR of 2.45 MPa. Furthermore, the cardanol-formaldehyde adhesive promoted a 93% reduction in formaldehyde emission, with a reduction from 16.76 to 1.09 mg/100 g oven-dry board for particleboards produced with cardanol-formaldehyde, indicating potential as an adhesive in the particleboard industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria, a developing nation with a population of about 200 million people, is currently experiencing a national housing deficit of approximately 17 million units. With an expected annual national population growth rate of about 3% and an annual urban population growth rate of about 4%, Nigeria's population is becoming more and more concentrated in metropolitan regions, towns, and cities where housing deficits are more pronounced. The high cost of construction materials contributes majorly to Nigeria's housing problems, prompting several researches into the use of local materials as alternative building materials. In Nigeria, lignocellulosic biomass resources such as forestry residues, agricultural wastes, and industrial remnants are available in large quantities and are being investigated for use in the production of wood-based panel boards. However, the formaldehyde-based adhesives used in their manufacture emit emissions that pollute the environment and harm human health. The goal is to create cheap, environmentally friendly binder-less boards from waste lignocellulosic materials. In pursuit of a sustainable built environment in Nigeria, this review investigates the potentials of binder-less board production from lignocellulosic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enormous amount of agroindustrial residues generated in Brazil can be used as biomass to produce fermentable sugars. This study compared the pretreatments with different proportions of dilute acid. The method involved pretreatment with 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% (v/v) sulfuric acid, followed by hydrolysis using the halotolerant and thermostable endoglucanase from Botrytis ricini URM 5627. The physicochemical characterization of plant biomass was performed using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The pretreatment significantly increased the production of fermentable sugars following enzymatic saccharification from wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husk: 153.67%, 91.98%, and 253.21% increment in sugar production; 36.39 mg⋅g−1 ± 1.23, 39.55 mg⋅g−1 ± 1.70, and 42.53 mg⋅g−1 ± 7.61 mg⋅L−1 of glucose; and 3.26 ± 0.35 mg⋅g−1, 3.61mg⋅g−1 ± 0.74 and 3.59 mg⋅g−1 ± 0.80 of fructose were produced, respectively. In conclusion, biomass should preferably be pretreated before the enzymatic saccharification using B. ricini URM 5627 endoglucanase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging contaminants are becoming a significant challenge for modern society. Antibiotic resistance is notably among the most urgent public health concerns, and it is well recognised that the problem often originates from wastewater treatment facilities. In developed countries, where affordable and specified, activated carbon can be used as an efficient adsorbent of antibiotic residues present in wastewaters. However, this method is associated with high production and reactivation costs and has a significant carbon footprint. Research at Ulster University proposes a more sustainable and cost-effective solution to this problem. The technique involves the application of modified sawdust waste to treated effluent, reducing tertiary antibiotic contamination. The sawdust used in the current study was from two sources: ash or a mixture of tree species. These materials, in unmodified and modified forms, were applied as the adsorbents in model systems containing vancomycin (antibiotic) dissolved in distilled water at concentrations ranging between 30 and 150 mg/L. It was found that such adsorbents are highly efficient at removing vancomycin from contaminated waters. Antibiotic removal levels reached 63.0% (σ = 2.3%) for the modified mixed sawdust and 56.6% (σ = 5.1%) for the modified ash sawdust. Post-treatment, the sawdust can undergo a thermal conversion for energy production. The preliminary findings of this scoping work indicate the feasibility of converting sawdust waste into a novel means for wastewater treatment systems capable of dealing with antibiotic pollutants. The simplicity of the method offers many developing and developed economies, a sustainable means of managing this dangerous emerging problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment aimed to find the relation between image texture features of pellets made of various lignocellulosic materials (wood, wheat straw, hay, giant miscanthus, prairie spartina, and giant knotweed) and their physico-mechanical properties (density, compressive energy, maximum compressive strength, modulus of elasticity). Using the Kruskal-Wallis's test, the effect of materials on these properties was examined. Texture features were derived from the grey-level co-occurrence matrix, grey-level run-length matrix, absolute gradient matrix, autoregressive model, and wavelet decomposition, resulting in 86 features, later reduced to 8 factors via explanatory factor analysis. These factors were used as predictors in regression models for physico-mechanical properties. The models for modulus of elasticity achieved R2 adj values of 0.91–0.99 (except for hay and wood), compressive stress models achieved 0.65–0.99 (excluding hay and wood), compressive energy models ranged from 0.60 to 0.97 (excluding hay), and density models ranged from 0.56 to 0.97 (excluding wood). The study confirmed a significant correlation between material type, texture parameters and compression resistance, suggesting this method could monitor pellet quality in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic materials are composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and are one of the most abundant biopolymers in marine environments. The extent of the involvement of marine microorganisms in lignin degradation and their contribution to the oceanic carbon cycle remains elusive. In this study, a novel lignin-degrading bacterial strain, LCG003, was isolated from intertidal seawater in Lu Chao Harbor, East China Sea. Phylogenetically, strain LCG003 was affiliated with the genus Aliiglaciecola within the family Alteromonadaceae. Metabolically, strain LCG003 contains various extracellular (signal-fused) glycoside hydrolase genes and carbohydrate transporter genes and can grow with various carbohydrates as the sole carbon source, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, rhamnose, maltose, stachyose and cellulose. Moreover, strain LCG003 contains many genes of amino acid and oligopeptide transporters and extracellular peptidases and can grow with peptone as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, indicating a proteolytic lifestyle. Notably, strain LCG003 contains a gene of dyp-type peroxidase and strain-specific genes involved in the degradation of 4-hydroxy-benzoate and vanillate. We further confirmed that it can decolorize aniline blue and grow with lignin as the sole carbon source. Our results indicate that the Aliiglaciecola species can depolymerize and mineralize lignocellulosic materials and potentially play an important role in the marine carbon cycle.

Residual lignocellulosic materials can be used as adsorbents for heavy metals present in water, promoting the adsorption of metal ions on the surface and active sites of biomaterials, resulting in a low-cost and efficient removal. In this case, the residues from the agroindustrial use of the fique (Furcraea macrophilla) and the agricultural process of the corn maize (Zea mays) were studied as adsorbing phases of chromium and lead metals, in order to assess their capacity as biosorbents of these metals present in water samples, determined by equilibrium time, type of isotherm and maximum adsorption capacity; finding that in a time of 12 hours, the fique fiber has an adsorption capacity of Cr and Pb of 7,81 ± 1,40 mg/g and 169,51 ± 1,37 mg/g respectively, observing, a form of Freundlich type adsorption isotherm; while the corn layer fiber has an adsorption capacity of 13,35 ± 3,28 mg/g for chromium and 15,01 ± 3,47 mg/g for lead, showing a behavior in its Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm, concluding that both fibers have potential for the removal of the metals studied, especially the fiber of fique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection and characterization of biomass feedstocks with the maximum biomaterial or biofuel yields need the accessibility of reliable and efficient methods for structural and compositional characterization of plant material. Understanding microstructure of lignocellulosic fibre is required to evaluate the heat and mass transfer phenomena, bond formation, fibre alignment and orientation, structural architecture and modelling of structure-property relationship, which are necessary for designing and developing cellulose-based products. Furthermore, the microstructural and compositional information can determine distribution of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose in the biomass, interaction of reinforced fillers and polymer matrix in the bio-composites. Many conventional standard analytical methods for biomass study are laborious, slow and use harsh chemical reagents that need certain remediation. This paper reviews the microstructural and compositional analyses of lignocellulosic materials through imaging and spectroscopic techniques (I&ST) such as X-ray micro-computed tomography (X-ray μCT), scanning electron microscope (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This review attempts to provide fundamental backgrounds, basic working principles, applications and technical limitations and possible solutions of I&ST for analysing lignocellulosic biomass, their products and changes acquired during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of flammability tests on polymer compositions with wheat bran (WB) as the applied filler, and polyethylene (PE) or poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) as the matrix material. Tests were conducted using samples of compositions containing 10, 30 and 50%wt wheat bran. The test samples were manufactured by injection moulding from compositions previously produced by extrusion pelleting. For comparative purposes, samples made only of the plastics used for the composition matrix were also examined. Flammability tests were carried out in accordance with the recommendations of EN 60695-11-10 Part 11–10 with horizontal and vertical positioning of the sample, using a universal flammability-test-stand. During the flammability tests, changes in the temperature field in the area of the burning sample were also recorded, using a thermal imaging camera. Sample residues after flammability tests were also examined with infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to assess their thermal destruction. The results of the study showed a significant increase in flammability with bran content for both PE and PBS matrix compositions. Clear differences were also found in the combustion behaviour of the matrix materials alone. Both the burning rate and maximum flame temperature were lower in favour of PBS. PBS compositions with wheat bran also showed lower flammability, compared with their PE matrix counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding the limited resources for fossil fuels and increasing global energy demands, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change, there is a need to find alternative energy sources that are sustainable, environmentally friendly, renewable, and economically viable. In the last several decades, interest in second-generation bioethanol production from non-food lignocellulosic biomass in the form of organic residues rapidly increased because of its abundance, renewability, and low cost. Bioethanol production fits into the strategy of a circular economy and zero waste plans, and using ethanol as an alternative fuel gives the world economy a chance to become independent of the petrochemical industry, providing energy security and environmental safety. However, the conversion of biomass into ethanol is a challenging and multi-stage process because of the variation in the biochemical composition of biomass and the recalcitrance of lignin, the aromatic component of lignocellulose. Therefore, the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol has not yet become well-received commercially, being hampered by high research and production costs, and substantial effort is needed to make it more widespread and profitable. This review summarises the state of the art in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass, highlights the most challenging steps of the process, including pretreatment stages required to fragment biomass components and further enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, presents the most recent technological advances to overcome the challenges and high costs, and discusses future perspectives of second-generation biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of alternative raw materials to produce particleboards is an interesting strategy that adds value to lignocellulosic biomass and diversifies the forest products industry. This article reports evaluation of the potential of using Mauritia flexuosa wood along with Eucalyptus spp. wood for the production of particleboards. The basic density and chemical composition of the raw materials were evaluated before producing the particleboards. The boards were produced using particles of Eucalyptus spp. and Mauritia flexuosa in mass proportions of 100/0%, 90/10%, 80/20%, 70/30%, and 60/40%. The quality of the particleboards was evaluated by water absorption, thickness swelling, internal bonding, and static bending tests. The presence of Mauritia flexuosa particles reduced dimensional stability since the compression ratio increased due to the lower density of the Mauritia flexuosa particles. The substitution of 1% Mauritia flexuosa particles caused reductions of 10.49 MPa in the modulus of elasticity, 0.09 MPa in the modulus of rupture, and 0.01 MPa in internal bonding. The results demonstrated that it was feasible to replace up to 17.5% of Eucalyptus spp. wood with Mauritia flexuosa particles to have the appropriate physical and mechanical properties of particleboards that meet the marketing standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia, a major stress-inducing factor in aquaculture, contributes a significant challenge in maintaining sustainable fish production. Addressing this issue requires environmentally and economically sustainable solutions. This study explores the use of readily available and environmentally friendly porous lignocellulosic luffa sponge as a biostimulator, with a combination of three medicinal and aromatic plants(MAPs) viz. Asparagus racemosses (satavari) roots, Cammiphora wightii (guggal) stems, and Vitex negundo (nirgundi) stem for alleviating ammoniacal stress by biotransforming ammonia in aquaponics water/ aquaculture. A 45-day experiment was conducted using Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in tanks containing aquaponics water. The study consists of a control (C) and four treatments: L(Luffa), LS(Luffa + shatavari roots), LG(Luffa + guggal stem) and LN(Luffa + nirgundi stem). Ammonia was spiked weekly at different concentrations(2, 2.5, 3, 5, and 10 mgL -1 ). The L group showed significantly( p  < 0.05) higher ammonia removal of 86.06% ± 9.62(spiked 3 mgL -1 ) in 24 hrs, and 73.98%±2.6 and 86.35%±4.47(spiked 5 mgL -1 ) in 24 and 48 hrs, respectively, which may be attributed to a higher surface area of the substrate for microbial attachment. The MAPs upregulated fish's hematological and serum biochemical parameters under elevated ammonia, indicating ammonical stress mitigation. Treatment groups showed significantly ( p  < 0.05) higher fish yield than the control (165.66 ± 0.50 g), with L, LS, LG, and LN giving a yield of 174.76 ± 2.07, 175.41 ± 0.59, 179.07 ± 4.29, and 181.57 ± 0.45 g respectively, with no significant difference detected among them. Promising outcomes in ammonia removal and stress mitigation were demonstrated by incorporating the lignocellulosic biomass and MAPs in this study, which is beneficial in commercial aquaculture with prospects in aquaponics systems.

Environmentally friendly flexible materials with functionalities such as reversibly tunable wettability have become much sought after because of their great potential for biological, chemical and electronic applications. We prepared a flexible superhydrophobic material by coating the hydrophobic nano-TiO2 particles on lignocellulosic paper. The coated paper surfaces exhibited a reversible switching between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity through UV irradiation and heating, respectively. After the UV irradiation treatment for about 100 min, the wettability of the coated paper is switched from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity. After the coated paper with superhydrophilicity is heated for 25 h, the water contact angle (WCA) recovers to the original superhydrophobic state. Compared to the literatures, the switching time between two kinds of superwettability is significantly reduced. SEM images and XPS spectra indicate that the change in chemical composition of the coated paper surface is responsible for the reversible switching of wettability. The coated paper developed in this study is an attractive smart material with reversibly switchable wettability which has significant potential application in many fields which require tunable wettability.

The effect of four lignocellulosic waste fillers on the thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites was investigated. Powdered licorice root, palm leaf, holm oak and willow fillers were melt compounded with polypropylene at two different weight contents, i.e., 10 and 30, and then injection molded. A commercially available maleated coupling agent was used to improve the filler/matrix interfacial adhesion at 5 wt.%. Composites were subjected to chemical (FTIR-ATR), thermal (TGA, DSC, DMA) and mechanical (tensile, bending and Charpy impact) analyses coupled with a morphological investigation by scanning electron microscopy. Although similarities among the different formulations were noted, holm oak fillers provided the best combination of thermal and mechanical performance. In particular, at 30 wt.% content with coupling agent, this composite formulation displayed remarkable increases in tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, of 28% and 110%, 58% and 111%, compared to neat PP, respectively. The results imply that all these lignocellulosic waste fillers can be used successfully as raw materials for biocomposites, with properties comparable to those featured by other natural fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fossil fuels are the main sources of water, soil, and air pollution that threaten human life and other organisms on Earth. Nowadays, the climate change and pollution are critical issues; however, many countries still use polluting fossil fuels. Therefore, finding alternative and clean fuels is a concern for many environmental activists and scientists. One of these alternative fuels is ethanol, which ignites cleaner due to its higher hydroxyl groups and lack of sulfur and nitrogen in its formula. Ethanol can be produced both chemically and biologically. Till now, four generations of bioethanol have been introduced. In the second generation, lignocellulosic materials are used as the main source for bioethanol production. These materials are frequently found in plant biomasses and agricultural residues, which are inexpensive and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, it is of importance to improve the production process and find novel techniques that increase final yields and process efficacy. In this study, the structural properties of lignocellulosic materials, pretreatment techniques, the second-generation bioethanol production process, and the effective bacterial and fungal strains in this procedure are investigated. Materials and Methods: This review study is a narrative review in which a logical search approach was selected. For data analysis, a comparative approach between the different methods was expressed in each section. Results: Among four bioethanol generations, the second generation has received remarkable attention due to its non-competition with human food and its industrial potential rather than other generations. Therefore, it is of particular significance to improve the production process of bioethanol second generation. A deep understanding of lignocellulosic components, pretreatment methods optimization, and increasing hydrolysis and fermentation processes efficiency make bioethanol production industrially possible and cost-effective. Discussion and Conclusion: However, despite extensive studies to select the most suitable microorganisms during the fermentation stage, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis are still at the forefront of studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, biomass lignocellulosic materials extracted via chemical and physical treatments from bean and pistachio pod waste were used for the optimized elimination of Indigo Carmine (IC) from aqueous medium, using a design of experiments methodology. The physicochemical properties of the studied materials (raw and treated counterparts) used for the sorption of IC were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDX, and thermal analysis. Key variables influencing the adsorption of IC, namely the initial IC concentration, the pH of the solution, the stirring time and the mass of adsorbents, were optimized by the central composite design (CCD) with three center points, the measured response being the amount of IC adsorbed. The optimal conditions obtained from the statistical analysis for the removal of IC were as follows: maximum adsorbed amounts of IC: 1.81 mg/g, 2.05 mg/g, 3.56 mg/g; 7.42 mg/g, 8.95 mg/g, 15.35 mg/g, for raw bean pods (RBS), BST1 and BST2 (bean pods chemically treated), and for raw pistachio pods (RPS), PST1 and PST2 (pistachio pods chemically treated), respectively. The pseudo-second-order nonlinear kinetics model well described the IC adsorption kinetics for RBS, BST1 and BST2, while the Elovich model was properly fitted by RPS, PST1, and PST2 biomaterials data. The Freundlich isotherm best described the shrinkage of IC on different sorbents. The good correlation of the experimental data of the IC with respect to the Freundlich isotherm indicated a multilayer adsorption with heterogeneous adsorption sites and different energies. The interest of this work consisted in developing analytical methods for the treatment of water polluted by dyes by using biosorbents, local biological materials widely available and inexpensive. The results collected in this work highlighted the interesting structural, morphological, and physico-chemical properties of the agro-waste used in the study, which properties allowed an important fixation of the target dye in solution. The research showed that the agro-waste used in the study are possible precursors to locally manufacture adsorbents at low cost, thus allowing the efficient removal of waste and dyes in liquid effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]