| 1. |
- Aldaeus, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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The supramolecular structure of cellulose-rich wood and wheat straw pulps can be a determinative factor for enzymatic hydrolysability
- 2016
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Ingår i: The 7th Workshop on cellulose, regenerated cellulose and cellulose derivatives. ; , s. 39-39
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Conversion of biomass to biofuels and other products is a research area that is currently attracting a great amount of interest, particularly because such production may be envisaged as a key part of any bio-based economy. Lignocellulosic biomass is abundant and sustainable, and can therefore potentially support large-scale production of biofuel as an alternative to petroleum-based fuel.The enzymatic hydrolysability of three industrial pulps, five lab made pulps, and one microcrystalline cellulose powder was assessed using commercial cellulolytic enzymes. To gain insight into the factors that influence the hydrolysability, a thorough characterization of the samples was done, including their chemical properties (cellulose content, hemicellulose content, lignin content, and kappa number), their macromolecular properties (peak molar mass, number-average molar mass, weight-average molar mass, polydispersity, and limiting viscosity) and their supramolecular properties (fibre saturation point, specific surface area, average pore size, and crystallinity). The hydrolysability was assessed by determination of initial conversion rate and final conversion yield, with conversion yield defined as the amount of glucose in solution per unit of glucose in the substrate. Multivariate data analysis revealed that for the investigated samples the conversion of cellulose to glucose was mainly dependent on the supramolecular properties, such as specific surface area and average pore size. The molar mass distribution, the crystallinity, and the lignin content of the pulps had no significant effect on the hydrolysability of the investigated samples.In addition, experiments were carried out aiming at identifying suitable conditions for pre-treatment of wheat straw, for the purpose of making cellulose rich pulps with improved enzymatic reactivity. Two sets of conditions for pre-treatment of wheat straw were identified; a combination of low temperature alkaline washing and acid pre-hydrolysis, or high temperature acid pre-hydrolysis. Both bleached wheat straw pulps showed similar enzymatic reactivity. However, the enzymatic reactivity of both bleached wheat straw pulps was found to be significantly less than what has been achieved for wood pulps. A probable explanation for the low enzymatic reactivity of the bleached wheat straw pulp can be the small pore size, limiting the access for enzymes to the cellulose surfaces in the fibre wall interior.Text, figures and tables in an extended abstract (< 4 pages with title and references).
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| 2. |
- Ansari, Farhan, et al.
(författare)
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Hierarchical wood cellulose fiber/epoxy biocomposites : Materials design of fiber porosity and nanostructure
- 2015
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Ingår i: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-835X .- 1878-5840. ; 74, s. 60-68
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Delignified chemical wood pulp fibers can be designed to have a controlled structure of cellulose fibril aggregates to serve as porous templates in biocomposites with unique properties. The potential of these fibers as reinforcement for an epoxy matrix (EP) was investigated in this work. Networks of porous wood fibers were impregnated with monomeric epoxy and cured. Microscopy images from ultramicrotomed cross sections and tensile fractured surfaces were used to study the distribution of matrix inside and around the fibers - at two different length scales. Mechanical characterization at different relative humidity showed much improved mechanical properties of biocomposites based on epoxy-impregnated fibers and they were rather insensitive to surrounding humidity. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of cellulose-fiber biocomposites were compared with those of cellulose-nanofibril (CNF) composites; strong similarities were found between the two materials. The reasons for this, some limitations and the role of specific surface area of the fiber are discussed.
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| 3. |
- Görür, Yunus Can, et al.
(författare)
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Advanced Characterization of Self-Fibrillating Cellulose Fibers and Their Use in Tunable Filters
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. - : American Chemical Society. - 1944-8244 .- 1944-8252. ; 13:27, s. 32467-32478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thorough characterization and fundamental understanding of cellulose fibers can help us develop new, sustainable material streams and advanced functional materials. As an emerging nanomaterial, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have high specific surface area and good mechanical properties; however, handling and processing challenges have limited their widespread use. This work reports an in-depth characterization of self-fibrillating cellulose fibers (SFFs) and their use in smart, responsive filters capable of regulating flow and retaining nanoscale particles. By combining direct and indirect characterization methods with polyelectrolyte swelling theories, it was shown that introduction of charges and decreased supramolecular order in the fiber wall were responsible for the exceptional swelling and nanofibrillation of SFFs. Different microscopy techniques were used to visualize the swelling of SFFs before, during, and after nanofibrillation. Through filtration and pH adjustment, smart filters prepared via in situ nanofibrillation showed an ability to regulate the flow rate through the filter and a capacity of retaining 95% of 300 nm (diameter) silica nanoparticles. This exceptionally rapid and efficient approach for making smart filters directly addresses the challenges associated with dewatering of CNFs and bridges the gap between science and technology, making the widespread use of CNFs in high-performance materials a not-so-distant reality.
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| 4. |
- Adeboye, Peter, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Catabolism of coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yields less toxic products
- 2015
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Ingår i: Microbial Cell Factories. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2859. ; 14:1, s. 149-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Lignocellulosic substrates and pulping process streams are of increasing relevance to biorefineries for second generation biofuels and biochemical production. They are known to be rich in sugars and inhibitors such as phenolic compounds, organic acids and furaldehydes. Phenolic compounds are a group of aromatic compounds known to be inhibitory to fermentative organisms. It is known that inhibition of Sacchromyces cerevisiae varies among phenolic compounds and the yeast is capable of in situ catabolic conversion and metabolism of some phenolic compounds. In an approach to engineer a S. cerevisiae strain with higher tolerance to phenolic inhibitors, we selectively investigated the metabolic conversion and physiological effects of coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Aerobic batch cultivations were separately performed with each of the three phenolic compounds. Conversion of each of the phenolic compounds was observed on time-based qualitative analysis of the culture broth to monitor various intermediate and final metabolites. Result: Coniferyl aldehyde was rapidly converted within the first 24 h, while ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were more slowly converted over a period of 72 h. The conversion of the three phenolic compounds was observed to involved several transient intermediates that were concurrently formed and converted to other phenolic products. Although there were several conversion products formed from coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, the conversion products profile from the three compounds were similar. On the physiology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the maximum specific growth rates of the yeast was not affected in the presence of coniferyl aldehyde or ferulic acid, but it was significantly reduced in the presence of p-coumaric acid. The biomass yields on glucose were reduced to 73 and 54 % of the control in the presence of coniferyl aldehyde and ferulic acid, respectively, biomass yield increased to 127 % of the control in the presence of p-coumaric acid. Coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid and their conversion products were screened for inhibition, the conversion products were less inhibitory than coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, indicating that the conversion of the three compounds by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also a detoxification process. Conclusion: We conclude that the conversion of coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid into less inhibitory compounds is a form of stress response and a detoxification process. We hypothesize that all phenolic compounds are converted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the same metabolic process. We suggest that the enhancement of the ability of S. cerevisiae to convert toxic phenolic compounds into less inhibitory compounds is a potent route to developing a S. cerevisiae with superior tolerance to phenolic compounds.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Design of a Foiling Optimist
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Sailboat Technology. ; 2018, s. 1-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Because of the successful application of hydrofoils on the America's Cup catamarans in the past two campaigns the interest in foiling sailing craft has boosted. Foils have been fitted to a large number of yachts with great success, ranging from dinghies to ocean racers. An interesting question is whether one of the slowest racing boats in the world, the Optimist dinghy, can foil, and if so, at what minimum wind speed. The present paper presents a comprehensive design campaign to answer the two questions. The campaign includes a newly developed Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) for foiling/non-foiling conditions, a wind tunnel test of sail aerodynamics, a towing tank test of hull hydrodynamics and a large number of numerical predictions of foil characteristics. An optimum foil configuration is developed and towing tank tested with satisfactory results. The final proof of the concept is a successful on the water test with stable foiling at a speed of 12 knots.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, A, et al.
(författare)
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The Foiling Optimist
- 2017
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Ingår i: The Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Innovation in High Performance Sailing Yachts, Lorient, France, 28-30 June 2017.. ; , s. 19-30
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Linnéa, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating pore space in macroporous ceramics with water-based porosimetry
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of The American Ceramic Society. - : Wiley. - 0002-7820 .- 1551-2916. ; 96:6, s. 1916-1922
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We show that water-based porosimetry (WBP), a facile, simple, and nondestructive porosimetry technique, accurately evaluates both the pore size distribution and throat size distribution of sacrificially templated macroporous alumina. The pore size distribution and throat size distribution derived from the WBP evaluation in uptake (imbibition) and release (drainage) mode, respectively, were corroborated by mercury porosimetry and X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). In contrast with mercury porosimetry, the WBP also provided information on the presence of “dead-end pores” in the macroporous alumina.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Bergenstråhle, Malin, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamics of Cellulose-Water Interfaces : NMR Spin-Lattice Relaxation Times Calculated from Atomistic Computer Simulations
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. - Washington : ACS Publications. - 1520-6106 .- 1520-5207. ; 112:9, s. 2590-2595
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS 13C NMR) spectroscopy has often been used to study cellulose structure, but some features of the cellulose NMR spectrum are not yet fully understood. One such feature is a doublet around 84 ppm, a signal that has been proposed to originate from C4 atoms at cellulose fibril surfaces. The two peaks yield different T1, differing by approximately a factor of 2 at 75 MHz. In this study, we calculate T1 from C4-H4 vector dynamics obtained from molecular dynamics computer simulations of cellulose Iβ-water interfacial systems. Calculated and experimentally obtained T1 values for C4 atoms in surface chains fell within the same order of magnitude, 3-20 s. This means that the applied force field reproduces relevant surface dynamics for the cellulose-water interface sufficiently well. Furthermore, a difference in T1 of about a factor of 2 in the range of Larmor frequencies 25-150 MHz was found for C4 atoms in chains located on top of two different crystallographic planes, namely, (110) and (10). A previously proposed explanation that the C4 peak doublet could derive from surfaces parallel to different crystallographic planes is herewith strengthened by computationally obtained evidence. Another suggested basis for this difference is that the doublet originates from C4 atoms located in surface anhydro-glucose units with hydroxymethyl groups pointing either inward or outward. This was also tested within this study but was found to yield no difference in calculated T1.
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| 10. |
- Bergenstråhle-Wohlert, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Concentration enrichment of urea at cellulose surfaces : results from molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Cellulose. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0969-0239 .- 1572-882X. ; 19:1, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A combined solid-state NMR and Molecular Dynamics simulation study of cellulose in urea aqueous solution and in pure water was conducted. It was found that the local concentration of urea is significantly enhanced at the cellulose/solution interface. There, urea molecules interact directly with the cellulose through both hydrogen bonds and favorable dispersion interactions, which seem to be the driving force behind the aggregation. The CP/MAS (13)C spectra was affected by the presence of urea at high concentrations, most notably the signal at 83.4 ppm, which has previously been assigned to C4 atoms in cellulose chains located at surfaces parallel to the (110) crystallographic plane of the cellulose I beta crystal. Also dynamic properties of the cellulose surfaces, probed by spin-lattice relaxation time (13)CT (1) measurements of C4 atoms, are affected by the addition of urea. Molecular Dynamics simulations reproduce the trends of the T (1) measurements and lends new support to the assignment of signals from individual surfaces. That urea in solution is interacting directly with cellulose may have implications on our understanding of the mechanisms behind cellulose dissolution in alkali/urea aqueous solutions.
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