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In this study, the structural factors controlling the enzymatic saccharification of rice straw cellulose were examined by preparing structure-modified rice straw samples such as dewaxed, alkali-treated, oxidized, and swollen rice straw. It was found that the initial enzymatic saccharification rate of the various structure-modified samples was largely controlled by the initial cellulose surface area of the cellulose unit. Although the presence of lignin limited the cellulose surface area, there was no strong relationship between the lignin content and the initial reaction. On the other hand, the long-term enzymatic saccharification of rice straw cellulose highly depended on the lignin removal rate (lignin content). It was also found that silica is not a crucial factor in controlling the enzymatic saccharification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, we found that Tween 20 treatment (0–8mM) contributed to the cell wall collapse of most samples except for those with high lignin contents and high crystallinity. Cell wall collapse contributed to the formation of 10- to 50-nm pores and not only increased the monolayer saturation amount of adsorbed cellulase about 3–3.6 times but also increased the cellulase adsorption rate (D e/r 2) about 160–880 times. Moreover, cellulose conversion at 72h was also increased 8.7–21.5% by Tween 20 treatment. On the other hand, the adsorption of Tween 20 on Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose) hindered the cellulase reaction (adsorption and saccharification). The effect of Tween 20 treatment on the crystalline part was insignificant for both lignocelluloses and Avicel. It was found that some degree of pretreatment (e.g. lignin removal) that enhances Tween 20 diffusion into samples is necessary to obtain the structural effects of Tween 20. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lignin is a renewable resource that can generate a variety of value-added benzene derivatives during hydrothermal and/or chemical hydrolysis treatment; the crucial task is to separate the targeted derivatives from the hydrolysate. This study aims to investigate the adsorption kinetics of lignin-derived benzene derivatives onto silicalite-1 crystal in an aqueous-phase system to examine the potential applicability of silicalite-1 to aqueous-phase kinetic separation. Functional groups substituted to benzene include –OH, –CH 3 , –CH 2 –CH 3 , –OCH 3 , –CHO, –COOH, and –CH 2 =CH 2 –COOH. First, the corrected diffusivity was compared among cresol isomers. Critical diameter of the isomers was found to be a key parameter, giving rise to significant differences in diffusivity. Interestingly, we also discovered a considerable difference (maximum over 4 orders of magnitude) in corrected diffusivity, even among mono - and para -substituted derivatives, although these sorbates have the same critical diameter. In particular, the carboxylic derivatives tended to exhibit extremely low diffusivities and to show S-shaped isotherms. The diffusivities were strongly affected by the melting point of the sorbates. These results indicate a strong sorbate-sorbate interaction (e.g., hydrogen-bonding between carboxylic groups) that considerably limits molecular mobility in the narrow channel. Our findings are relevant to research on silicalite-1 to aqueous-phase kinetic separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]