Insights into the poplar cell wall deconstruction following deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for enhanced enzymatic saccharification and lignin valorization.

In this study, a combination of microcosmic and chemical analysis methods was used to investigate deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment effects on cell wall's micromorphology and lignin's dissolution regular, in order to achieve high-performance biorefinery. The atomic force microscope observed that DES pretreatment peeled off non-cellulose components to reduced "anti-degradation barrier", resulting to improve the enzymatic saccharification from 12.36 % to 90.56 %. In addition, DES pretreatment can break the ß-O-4 bond between the lignin units resulting in a decline in molecular weight from 3187 g/mol to 1112 g/mol (0-6 h). However, long pretreatment time resulted regenerated lignin samples repolymerization. Finally, DES has good recoverability which showed saccharification still can reach 51.51 % at 6 h following four recycling rounds and regenerated lignin also had a typical and well-preserved structure. In general, this work offers important information for industrial biorefinery technologies and lignin valorization.

Structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of Y7Ru4InGe12: a first-principle study.

This study reports a theoretical examination of the structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of the tetragonal structure of Y7Ru4InGe12 by using the generalized gradient approximation of the density functional theory and the plane wave ab initio pseudopotential method. We have mainly studied the electronic properties of the compound. The calculated results of the band structure show that the addition of rare earth elements has a greater effect on Fermi levels. By studying density of states, it is found that Y, Ge, and Ru atoms contribute most to Fermi levels. At the same time, we also studied the partial density of states of Y and Ge atoms in different positions. By calculating the value of B (bulk modulus)/G (shear modulus), Poisson's ratio and Cauchy's pressure found that the compound exhibited ductility. Poisson's ratio can also be used to define the bonding properties of compounds. The results of the calculations show that the superconductivity of Y7Ru4InGe12 is due to significant metallic bonding. The calculated elastic constants show that the compound is mechanically stable.

[Soil aggregate stability and soil organic carbon characteristics in Quercus variabilis and Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in Beijing area].

Based on the field survey and laboratory analysis, this paper studied the soil aggregate stability and soil organic carbon characteristics in Quercus variabilis and Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in Beijing area. In the two plantations, the contents of soil macro-aggregates decreased with soil depth. In P. tabulaeformis plantation, soil macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) occupied the majority, accounting for 71% -77% of the total; whereas in Q. variabilis plantation, no significant difference was observed in the contents of soil macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates (< or =0.25 mm), which accounted for 51% -58% and 42% -49%, respectively. Both the mean mass diameter and the geometrical mean mass diameter of the soil aggregates in P. tabulaeformis plantation were significantly higher than those in Q. variabilis plantation, and the fractal dimension (D) of the soil water-stable aggregates in P. tabulaeformis plantation was lower than that in Q. variabilis plantation, suggesting that P. tabulaeformis plantation was more favorable for the soil aggregate stability than Q. variabilis plantation. Also in the two plantations, the organic carbon content in soil water-stable aggregates decreased with soil depth. The organic carbon content in soil macro-aggregates was significantly higher in P. tabulaeformis plantation (58% -83%) than in Q. variabilis plantation (49% -66% ). It was suggested that in Beijing area, P. tabulaeformis plantation was more beneficial to the soil organic carbon protection, as compared with Q. variabilis plantation.