Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Mostrar: 20 | 50 | 100
Resultados 1 - 20 de 65
Filtrar
1.
Biomacromolecules ; 2024 Aug 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39166779

RESUMO

Hydrogels, typically favored for 3D printing due to their viscoelasticity, are now trending toward ecofriendly alternatives amid growing environmental concerns. In this study, we crafted cellulose-based hydrogels, specifically employing cellulose acetate sulfate (CAS). By keeping the acetyl group substitution degree (DSacetyl = 1.8) and CAS molecular weight constant, we varied rheological properties by adjusting sulfate group substitution (DSsulfate = 0.4, 0.7, and 1.0) and CAS concentration (2-5 wt %). Rheological characterizations, including shear-thinning, yield stress, and thixotropy, were performed to identify optimal conditions for formulating CAS hydrogel ink in direct ink writing for 3D printing under selected experimental conditions. Based on rheological findings, CAS hydrogels with DSsulfate 0.7 and concentration of 4 wt % was used for 3D printing, with subsequent evaluation of printing metrics. Additionally, the effect of ionic cross-linking using Ca2+ ions on the structural integrity of 3D-printed structures was evaluated, demonstrating effective preservation through reinforced polymer networks. The shrinking and swelling behaviors of the 3D-printed structures were also significantly affected by this ionic cross-linking. Building on these findings, this work could broaden the range of cellulose derivatives available for the preparation of cellulose-based hydrogels for 3D printing.

2.
Biotechnol Bioeng ; 117(4): 924-932, 2020 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31885079

RESUMO

Mechanical refining results in fiber deconstruction and modifications that enhance enzyme accessibility to carbohydrates. Further understanding of the morphological changes occurring to biomass during mechanical refining and the impacts of these changes on enzymatic digestibility is necessary to maximize yields and reduce energy consumption. Although the degree of fiber length reduction relative to fibrillation/delamination can be impacted by manipulating refining variables, mechanical refining of any type (PFI, disk, and valley beater) typically results in both phenomena. Separating the two is not straightforward. In this study, fiber fractionation based on particle size performed after mechanical refining of high-lignin pulp was utilized to successfully elucidate the relative impact of fibrillation/delamination and fiber cutting phenomena during mechanical refining. Compositional analysis showed that fines contain significantly more lignin than larger size fractions. Enzymatic hydrolysis results indicated that within fractions of uniform fiber length, fibrillation/delamination due to mechanical refining increased enzymatic conversion by 20-30 percentage points. Changes in fiber length had little effect on digestibility for fibers longer than ~0.5 mm. However, the digestibility of the fines fractions was high for all levels of refining even with the high-lignin content.


Assuntos
Biomassa , Celulase/metabolismo , Lignina , Madeira , Fracionamento Químico , Hidrólise , Lignina/análise , Lignina/química , Lignina/metabolismo , Madeira/análise , Madeira/química , Madeira/metabolismo
3.
J Cell Physiol ; 234(2): 1643-1658, 2019 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30132871

RESUMO

Sarcopenia, which refers to the muscle loss that accompanies aging, is a complex neuromuscular disorder with a clinically high prevalence and mortality. Despite many efforts to protect against muscle weakness and muscle atrophy, the incidence of sarcopenia and its related permanent disabilities continue to increase. In this study, we found that treatment with human placental hydrolysate (hPH) significantly increased the viability (approximately 15%) of H2 O2 -stimulated C2C12 cells. Additionally, while H2 O2 -stimulated cells showed irregular morphology, hPH treatment restored their morphology to that of cells cultured under normal conditions. We further showed that hPH treatment effectively inhibited H2 O2 -induced cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and Mstn expression induced by oxidative stress are closely associated with muscular dysfunction followed by atrophy. Exposure of C2C12 cells to H2 O2 induced abundant production of intracellular ROS, mitochondrial superoxide, and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as myostatin expression via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling; these effects were attenuated by hPH. Additionally, hPH decreased mitochondria fission-related gene expression (Drp1 and BNIP3) and increased mitochondria biogenesis via the Sirt1/AMPK/PGC-1α pathway and autophagy regulation. In vivo studies revealed that hPH-mediated prevention of atrophy was achieved predominantly through regulation of myostatin and PGC-1α expression and autophagy. Taken together, our findings indicate that hPH is potentially protective against muscle atrophy and oxidative cell death.


Assuntos
Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Músculo Esquelético/efeitos dos fármacos , Atrofia Muscular/tratamento farmacológico , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Placenta , Extratos de Tecidos/farmacologia , Animais , Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos Pelados , Mitocôndrias Musculares/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias Musculares/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias Musculares/patologia , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Músculo Esquelético/patologia , Atrofia Muscular/metabolismo , Atrofia Muscular/patologia , Miostatina/metabolismo , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Coativador 1-alfa do Receptor gama Ativado por Proliferador de Peroxissomo/metabolismo , Gravidez
4.
Biol Pharm Bull ; 41(8): 1257-1268, 2018 Aug 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29794403

RESUMO

Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (CZ) has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Recently, CZ extract was shown to inhibit differentiation of osteoclasts and provide protection against rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of BST106, the ethanol extract of CZ, for cartilage protection in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA), particularly focusing on apoptosis and autophagy. BST106 (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was orally administered once daily to MIA-induced OA rats. Swelling, limping, roentgenography, and histomorphological changes were assessed 28 d after MIA injection. Biochemical parameters for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), apoptosis, and autophagy were also assessed. BST106 ameliorated the severity of swelling and limping after MIA injection. Roentgenographic and histomorphological examinations revealed that BST106 reduced MIA-induced cartilage damage. BST106 decreased MIA-induced increases in MMP-2 and MMP-13 mRNA levels. Increased levels of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and glycosaminoglycan release were attenuated by BST106. Furthermore, BST106 suppressed the protein expression of proapoptotic molecules and increased the protein expression of autophagosome- and autolysosome-related molecules. These findings indicate that BST106 protects against OA-induced cartilage damage by inhibition of the apoptotic pathway and restoration of impaired autophagic flux.


Assuntos
Chrysanthemum , Osteoartrite/tratamento farmacológico , Extratos Vegetais , Substâncias Protetoras , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Cartilagem Articular/efeitos dos fármacos , Cartilagem Articular/metabolismo , Cartilagem Articular/patologia , Ácido Iodoacético , Articulação do Joelho/efeitos dos fármacos , Articulação do Joelho/metabolismo , Articulação do Joelho/patologia , Masculino , Metaloproteinase 13 da Matriz/genética , Metaloproteinase 2 da Matriz/genética , Osteoartrite/induzido quimicamente , Osteoartrite/metabolismo , Osteoartrite/patologia , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Substâncias Protetoras/farmacologia , Substâncias Protetoras/uso terapêutico , Coelhos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley
5.
Plant Physiol ; 163(2): 907-13, 2013 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23995148

RESUMO

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy can selectively detect crystalline cellulose without spectral interference from cell wall matrix components. Here, we show that the cellulose SFG spectrum is sensitive to cellulose microfibril alignment and packing within the cell wall. SFG intensity at 2,944 cm(-1) correlated well with crystalline cellulose contents of various regions of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) inflorescence, while changes in the 3,320/2,944 cm(-1) intensity ratio suggest subtle changes in cellulose ordering as tissues mature. SFG analysis of two cellulose synthase mutants (irx1/cesa8 and irx3/cesa7) indicates a reduction in cellulose content without evidence of altered cellulose structure. In primary cell walls of Arabidopsis, cellulose exhibited a characteristic SFG peak at 2,920 and 3,320 cm(-1), whereas in secondary cell walls, it had peaks at 2,944 and 3,320 cm(-1). Starch (amylose) gave an SFG peak at 2,904 cm(-1) (CH methine) whose intensity increased with light exposure prior to harvest. Selective removal of matrix polysaccharides from primary cell walls by acid hydrolysis resulted in an SFG spectrum resembling that of secondary wall cellulose. Our results show that SFG spectroscopy is sensitive to the ordering of cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls at the meso scale (nm to µm) that is important for cell wall architecture but cannot be probed by other spectroscopic or diffraction techniques.


Assuntos
Arabidopsis/citologia , Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Parede Celular/química , Celulose/química , Análise Espectral/métodos , Glucosiltransferases/genética , Inflorescência/metabolismo , Mutação/genética , Difração de Raios X
6.
Biomacromolecules ; 15(7): 2718-24, 2014 Jul 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24846814

RESUMO

The crystallinity, allomorph content, and mesoscale ordering of cellulose produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus cultured with different plant cell wall matrix polysaccharides were studied with vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crystallinity and ordering were assessed as the intensity of SFG signals in the CH/CH2 stretch vibration region (and confirmed by XRD), while Iα content was assessed by the relative intensity of the OH stretch vibration at 3240 cm(-1). A key finding is that the presence of xyloglucan in the culture medium greatly reduced Iα allomorph content but with a relatively small effect on cellulose crystallinity, whereas xylan resulted in a larger decrease in crystallinity with a relatively small decrease in the Iα fraction. Arabinoxylan and various pectins had much weaker effects on cellulose structure as assessed by SFG and XRD. Homogalacturonan with calcium ion reduced the SFG signal, evidently by changing the ordering of cellulose microfibrils. We propose that the distinct effects of matrix polysaccharides on cellulose crystal structure result, at least in part, from selective interactions of the backbone and side chains of matrix polysaccharides with cellulose chains during the formation of the microfibril.


Assuntos
Parede Celular/química , Celulose/química , Pectinas/química , Configuração de Carboidratos , Celulose/ultraestrutura , Cristalização , Cristalografia por Raios X , Glucanos/química , Gluconacetobacter xylinus/química , Células Vegetais/química , Vibração , Xilanos/química
7.
Arch Plast Surg ; 51(4): 397-401, 2024 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39034982

RESUMO

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a rare condition. However, it should be suspected when there are traumatic facial fractures, because if not diagnosed, it can lead to permanent damage such as blindness. Traumatic CCF often presents delayed symptoms, and delayed diagnosis without prompt treatment can lead to permanent injuries in optic and cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI as well as intracranial hemorrhage. The routine initial modality for patients with suspected facial bone fractures is noncontrast computed tomography (CT) to identify any fracture lines and check for intracranial hemorrhage. We report a post-traumatic CCF case with a 4-day symptom delay, where left superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) enlargement was observed on the routine noncontrast facial CT with ipsilateral orbital wall fracture. When the patient first presented to the emergency room (ER), we did not detect vein enlargement on CT. Afterwards, the patient developed delayed symptoms of CCF and was readmitted to the ER. When we reanalyzed the first CT scan, an enlarged SOV was confirmed. The diagnosis was confirmed via magnetic resonance imaging angiography, and the patient was successfully treated with embolization of the fistula. Thus, we recommend reviewing ophthalmic vein enlargement that is readily identifiable through noncontrast CT for patients injured by craniofacial trauma to suspect the presence of delayed CCF at their initial presentation.

8.
Bioresour Technol ; 401: 130744, 2024 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38677384

RESUMO

Paper sludge biomass represents an underutilized feedstock rich in pulped and processed cellulose which is currently a waste stream with significant disposal cost to industry for landfilling services. Effective fractionation of the cellulose from paper sludge presents an opportunity to yield cellulose as feedstock for value-added processes. A novel approach to cellulose fractionation is the sidehill screening system, herein studied at the pilot-plant scale. Composition analysis determined ash removal and carbohydrate retention of both sidehill and high-performance benchtop screening systems. Sidehill screening resulted in greater carbohydrates retention relative to benchtop screening (90% vs 66%) and similar ash removal (95% vs 98%). Techno-economic analysis for production of sugar syrup yielded a minimum selling price of $331/metric ton of sugar syrup including disposal savings, significantly less than a commercial sugar syrup without fractionation. Sensitivity analysis showed that screening conditions played a significant role in economic feasibility for cellulosic yield and downstream processes.


Assuntos
Biomassa , Celulose , Papel , Esgotos , Projetos Piloto , Celulose/química , Fracionamento Químico
9.
Carbohydr Polym ; 342: 122411, 2024 Oct 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39048203

RESUMO

We propose a closed-loop pretreatment process, wherein volatiles produced during steam explosion pretreatment were recovered and reintroduced as acid catalysts into the pretreatment system. The volatiles were separated through a drastic decompression process followed by a steam explosion process and recovered as a liquified catalyst (LFC) through a heat exchanger. The LFC effectively served as an acid catalyst for hemicellulose hydrolysis, significantly decreasing residence time from 90 min to 30 min to achieve 80 % conversion yield at 170 °C. Hydrolysates with high content of lower molecular weight oligomeric sugars were obtained using LFC, and were considered advantageous for application as prebiotics. These results are attributed to the complementary features of acetic acid and furfural contained within the LFC. Computational simulation using Aspen Plus was used to investigate the effects of recycling on LFC, and it demonstrated the feasibility of the catalyst-recirculating system. A validation study was conducted based on simulation results to predict the actual performance of the proposed pretreatment system. Based on these results, the recirculating system was predicted to improve the conversion yield and low-molecular weight oligomers yield by 1.5-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively.


Assuntos
Avena , Glucuronatos , Oligossacarídeos , Vapor , Catálise , Hidrólise , Oligossacarídeos/química , Avena/química , Glucuronatos/química , Polissacarídeos/química
10.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 12385, 2024 May 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38811806

RESUMO

The technique known as 4D-STEM has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the local characterization of crystalline structures in materials, such as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries or perovskite materials for photovoltaics. However, the use of new detectors optimized for electron diffraction patterns and other advanced techniques requires constant adaptation of methodologies to address the challenges associated with crystalline materials. In this study, we present a novel image-processing method to improve pattern matching in the determination of crystalline orientations and phases. Our approach uses sub-pixel adaptive image processing to register and reconstruct electron diffraction signals in large 4D-STEM datasets. By using adaptive prominence and linear filters, we can improve the quality of the diffraction pattern registration. The resulting data compression rate of 103 is well-suited for the era of big data and provides a significant enhancement in the performance of the entire ACOM data processing method. Our approach is evaluated using dedicated metrics, which demonstrate a high improvement in phase recognition. Several features are extracted from the registered data to map properties such as the spot count, and various virtual dark fields, which are used to enhance the handling of the results maps. Our results demonstrate that this data preparation method not only enhances the quality of the resulting image but also boosts the confidence level in the analysis of the outcomes related to determining crystal orientation and phase. Additionally, it mitigates the impact of user bias that may occur during the application of the method through the manipulation of parameters.

11.
Arch Craniofac Surg ; 24(5): 236-239, 2023 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37919911

RESUMO

Porocarcinoma (PC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are distinct skin cancers. Few studies have documented the occurrence of two concurrent types of skin cancers, and to the best of our knowledge, this represents the inaugural report of such a coexisting lesion arising from a capillary malformation. Herein, we report a case of concurrent PC and BCC presenting with capillary malformation. A 93-year-old woman visited our hospital with a protruding mass in her right nasal ala that appeared as a capillary malformation. A biopsy was performed on the skin lesion, and BCC was diagnosed. A wide excision was performed. Permanent biopsy revealed that the skin lesion was a PC with basal cells and squamous differentiation. The safety margin of the deep tissue margin was < 0.1 cm; however, considering the advanced age of the patient, further excision was deemed to not possess any benefits. This case illustrates the importance of recognizing the possibility of multiple skin cancers, even in patients with benign lesions such as capillary malformations. The rarity of this presentation highlights the importance of thorough investigation and histopathological examination of skin lesions in guiding appropriate surgical excision.

12.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg ; 84: 62-70, 2023 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37327734

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The most common concern in nipple reconstruction is the loss of long-term nipple projection. This study aimed to demonstrate a novel method of nipple reconstruction using a modified C-V flap combined with purse-string sutures in the nipple base to maintain nipple projection. METHODS: From January 2018 to July 2021, patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using the novel modified C-V flap method and conventional C-V flap were retrospectively reviewed. The ratio of projection at the 3, 6, and 12-month postoperative follow-up to the initial nipple projection was calculated and compared. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included in this study, which was comprised of 41 patients in the conventional C-V flap group (conventional) and 75 patients in the modified C-V flap with purse-string sutures group (modified). The modified group showed a significantly higher ratio of nipple projection maintenance at postoperative 3 months (79.82%, conventional; 87.25%, modified; p < 0.001), 6 months (68.29%, conventional; 73.18%, modified; p < 0.001), and 12 months (53.98%, conventional; 60.19%, modified; p < 0.001), and a significantly lower revision rate (13/75 patients, 17.33%) than the conventional group (16/41 patients, 39.02%) (p = 0.009) during a mean of 17.67-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Nipple reconstruction using a modified C-V flap with purse-string sutures in the nipple base is a safe and effective method for the maintenance of long-term nipple projection owing to the reduction and stabilization of the nipple base.


Assuntos
Mamoplastia , Mamilos , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Mamilos/cirurgia , Mamoplastia/métodos , Retalhos Cirúrgicos/cirurgia , Suturas
13.
Melanoma Res ; 33(4): 326-331, 2023 08 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37199704

RESUMO

Cutaneous malignant melanomas of the head and neck (HNM) are proposed to have notable histological and clinical differences from those at other sites (other melanoma); however, HNMs among Asians have remained poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of HNM in Asians. Asian melanoma patients who underwent surgical treatment from January 2003 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological features and risk factors for local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were analyzed. Among 230 patients, 28 (12.2%) were diagnosed with HNM, and 202 (87.8%) with other melanoma. The histologic subtype significantly differed as the nodular type was predominant in HNM whereas the acral lentiginous type was predominant in other melanoma ( P  < 0.001). HNM was significantly associated with higher local recurrence ( P  = 0.045), lymph node metastasis ( P  = 0.048), distant metastasis ( P  = 0.023), and lower 5-year disease-free survival ( P  = 0.022) than other melanoma. Ulceration was the risk factor for lymph node metastasis based on multivariable analysis ( P  = 0.013). A high proportion of HNM present as the nodular subtype in Asians, leading to poor outcomes and low survival. Therefore, more cautious surveillance, evaluation, and aggressive treatment are required.


Assuntos
Asiático , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço , Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutâneas , Humanos , Asiático/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/etnologia , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/mortalidade , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/patologia , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/cirurgia , Metástase Linfática , Melanoma/etnologia , Melanoma/mortalidade , Melanoma/patologia , Melanoma/cirurgia , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Neoplasias Cutâneas/etnologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/mortalidade , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/cirurgia , Úlcera Cutânea/etnologia , Úlcera Cutânea/etiologia , Melanoma Maligno Cutâneo
14.
Heliyon ; 9(5): e15765, 2023 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37180912

RESUMO

In this study, the production and characterization of activated carbons (ACs) from agricultural and forest residue using physical activation are discussed. Biomass-based biochars produced during fast pyrolysis process is introduced as alternative precursors to produce AC and the integrated process for the co-production of porous adsorbent materials from biochar via the fast pyrolysis process is suggested. Moderate surface areas and good adsorption capacities were obtained from switchgrass (SWG) and pine tops (PT) based AC. The surface areas were 959 and 714 m2/g for SWG- and PT-based AC, respectively. The adsorption capacities using toluene as pollutant for two model systems of 180 and 300 ppm were measured and ranged between 441-711 and 432-716 mg/g for SWG-based and PT-based AC, respectively. The nitrogen adsorptive behavior, Lagergren pseudo-second-order kinetic (PSOK) model and kinetics isotherms studies describe a heterogeneous porous system, including a mesoporous fraction with the existence of a multilayer adsorption performance. The presence of micropores and mesopores in SWG- and PT-based AC suggests potential commercial applications for using pyrolytic biochars for AC production.

15.
Int J Biol Macromol ; 243: 125085, 2023 Jul 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37247712

RESUMO

The growing concern for the environment has resulted in renewed interest in bio-based resources. This study aims to produce a hydrogel adsorbent from cellulose and examine its adsorption performance. In pursuit of this goal, we report a simple one-pot synthesis of cellulose acetate sulfate (CAS), followed by the formation of CAS hydrogels and their subsequent adsorption performances. The CAS includes both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups, enable the formation of a single-component hydrogel through intermolecular interactions in deionized water. The thermal reversibility of CAS hydrogels makes them easily processable into various shapes. The durability of the CAS hydrogel adsorbents can be improved by introducing divalent cations (e.g., Ca2+), which create ionically crosslinked hydrogels. The ionically a crosslinked CAS hydrogel adsorbent exhibits a maximum adsorption capacity of 245 mg/g for methylene blue (MB) at 23 °C and a pH of 7. The adsorption behavior of MB on the CAS hydrogel follows both the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Furthermore, the CAS hydrogel adsorbent maintains a 70 % removal ratio after five cycles. The simplicity of synthesis and hydrogel formation opens up new possibilities for producing and utilizing cellulose-based hydrogels as adsorbents for aqueous contaminants.


Assuntos
Hidrogéis , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Hidrogéis/química , Água , Celulose , Sulfatos , Adsorção , Azul de Metileno/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Cinética , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio
16.
ChemSusChem ; 16(24): e202300729, 2023 Dec 19.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37642403

RESUMO

The demand for electrochemical energy storage is increasing rapidly due to a combination of decreasing costs in renewable electricity, governmental policies promoting electrification, and a desire by the public to decrease CO2 emissions. Lithium-ion batteries are the leading form of electrochemical energy storage for electric vehicles and the electrical grid. Lithium-ion cell anodes are mostly made of graphite, which is derived from geographically constrained, non-renewable resources using energy-intensive and highly polluting processes. Thus, there is a desire to innovate technologies that utilize abundant, affordable, and renewable carbonaceous materials for the sustainable production of graphite anodes under relatively mild process conditions. This review highlights novel attempts to realize the aforementioned benefits through innovative technologies that convert biocarbon resources, including lignocellulose, into high quality graphite for use in lithium-ion anodes.

17.
Biotechnol Bioeng ; 109(5): 1131-9, 2012 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22125215

RESUMO

Multi-stage and single-stage enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose (Avicel PH-101) were conducted to investigate individual factors that affect the rate-reducing kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis. Understanding factors affecting enzymatic hydrolysis of Avicel will help improve hydrolysis of various biomasses. Product inhibition, enzyme deactivation, and the changes of substrate are potential factors that can affect the hydrolysis efficiency of Avicel. Multi-stage enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in 36.9% and 25.4% higher carbohydrate conversion as compared to a single-stage enzymatic hydrolysis with an enzyme loading of 5 and 20 FPU/g in a 96 h reaction. However, a decline in carbohydrate conversion of 1.6% and 2.6% was observed through each stage with 5 and 20 FPU/g, respectively. This indicated that the substrate became more recalcitrant as hydrolysis progressed. The decreased reactivity was not due to crystallinity because no significant change in crystallinity was detected by X-ray diffraction. Product inhibition was significant at low enzyme loading, while it was marginal at high enzyme loading. Therefore, product inhibition can only partially explain this decreased conversion. Another important factor, enzyme deactivation, contributed to 20.3% and 25.4% decrease in the total carbohydrate conversion of 96 h hydrolysis with 5 and 20 FPU/g, respectively. This work shows that an important reason for the decreased Avicel digestibility is the effect of enzyme blockage, which refers to the enzymes that irreversibly adsorb on accessible sites of substrate. About 45.3% and 63.2% of the total decreased conversion at the end of the 8th stage with 5 and 20 FPU/g, respectively, was due to the presence of irreversibly adsorbed enzymes. This blockage of active sites by enzymes has been speculated by other researchers, but this article shows further evidence of this effect.


Assuntos
Celulases/metabolismo , Celulose/metabolismo , Inibidores Enzimáticos/metabolismo , Hidrólise , Cinética
18.
Biomacromolecules ; 13(3): 918-26, 2012 Mar 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22283444

RESUMO

Lignin-based fibers were produced by electrospinning aqueous dispersions of lignin, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Defect-free nanofibers with up to 90 wt % lignin and 15% CNCs were achieved. The properties of the aqueous dispersions, including viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface tension, were examined and correlated to the electrospinnability and resulting morphology of the composite fibers. A ternary lignin-PVA-water phase diagram was constructed as a tool to rationalize the effect of mixing ratios on the dispersion electrospinability and morphology of the resulting fibers. The influence of reinforcing CNCs on the thermal properties of the multicomponent fibers was investigated by using thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of the system was observed to increase owing to a strong interaction of the lignin-PVA matrix with the dispersed CNCs, mainly via hydrogen bonding, as observed in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments.


Assuntos
Celulose/química , Técnicas Eletroquímicas , Lignina/química , Nanofibras/química , Nanopartículas/química , Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria , Ligação de Hidrogênio , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Nanotecnologia , Tamanho da Partícula , Termogravimetria
19.
Sensors (Basel) ; 12(1): 1014-34, 2012.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22368508

RESUMO

The accurate measurement of diverse displacements of structures is an important index for the evaluation of a structure's safety. In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted to determine the integrated RTK-GPS/accelerometer method that can provide the most precise structure displacement measurements. For this purpose, three methods of calculating the dynamic displacements from the acceleration data were comparatively analyzed. In addition, two methods of determining dynamic, static, and quasi-static displacements by integrating the displacements measured from the RTK-GPS system and the accelerometer were also comparatively analyzed. To ensure precise comparison results, a cantilever beam was manufactured onto which diverse types of displacements were generated to evaluate the measurement accuracy by method. Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) measurements were used as references for the evaluation to ensure accuracy. The study results showed that the most suitable method of measuring the dynamic displacement with the accelerometer was to calculate the displacement by filtering and double-integrating the acceleration data using the FIR band-pass filter. The integration method that uses frequency-based displacement extraction was most appropriate for the integrated RTK-GPS/accelerometer method of comprehensively measuring the dynamic, static, and quasi-static displacements.


Assuntos
Aceleração , Sistemas Computacionais , Sistemas de Informação Geográfica , Tecnologia de Sensoriamento Remoto/métodos , Colapso Estrutural , Fenômenos Biomecânicos , Análise Numérica Assistida por Computador , Transdutores
20.
Biomacromolecules ; 12(7): 2434-9, 2011 Jul 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21615075

RESUMO

The selective detection of crystalline cellulose in biomass was demonstrated with sum-frequency-generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy. SFG is a second-order nonlinear optical response from a system where the optical centrosymmetry is broken. In secondary plant cell walls that contain mostly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin with varying concentrations, only certain vibration modes in the crystalline cellulose structure can meet the noninversion symmetry requirements. Thus, SFG can be used to detect and analyze crystalline cellulose selectively in lignocellulosic biomass without extraction of noncellulosic species from biomass or deconvolution of amorphous spectra. The selective detection of crystalline cellulose in lignocellulosic biomass is not readily achievable with other techniques such as XRD, solid-state NMR, IR, and Raman analyses. Therefore, the SFG analysis presents a unique opportunity to reveal the cellulose crystalline structure in lignocellulosic biomass.


Assuntos
Betula/química , Parede Celular/química , Celulose/análise , Pinus taeda/química , Quercus/química , Betula/citologia , Biomassa , Cristalização , Dinâmica não Linear , Pinus taeda/citologia , Quercus/citologia , Espectrofotometria Infravermelho , Análise Espectral Raman , Vibração
SELEÇÃO DE REFERÊNCIAS
DETALHE DA PESQUISA