Valorization of wheat straw into paper by ultrafiltered enzymatic bleaching approach.

In this study, the potential of ultrafiltered xylano-pectinolytic enzymatic bleaching approach was investigated, for manufacturing wheat straw-based paper. The enzymatic step was found to be most effective, with xylanase-pectinase dose of 4-1.7 IU/g pulp and time period of 180 min. The absorption spectra of the pulp free filtrate samples obtained after treatment of the pulp with ultrafiltered enzymes showed the removal of more impurities, in comparison to the treatment with crude enzymes. Microscopic analysis also showed the removal of lignin impurities in enzymatically bleached pulp samples. This bleaching approach using enzymes resulted in 27% reduction in ClO2 dose. Ultrafiltered enzymes treated pulp samples also showed improved quality-related parameters, and Gurley porosity, burst index, breaking length, double fold, tear index, and viscosity increased by 19.05, 13.70, 8.18, 29.27, 4.41, and 13.27%, respectively. The lignin content, TDS, TSS, BOD and COD values also decreased in the effluent samples obtained after enzymatic bleaching plus 73% chemical bleaching dose. The BOD and COD values of the effluent samples improved by 23.01 and 23.66%, respectively. Thus, indicating the potential of ultrafiltered xylano-pectinolytic enzymes in reducing pollution during bleaching of wheat straw. This is the first study, mentioning the efficacy of ultrafiltered enzymes in the bleaching of wheat straw-based paper with better optical-strength-related properties and effluent characteristics.

A novel cost-effective methodology for the screening of nanocellulose producing micro-organisms.

In this paper, the work has been done to develop a cost-effective methodology, for the isolation of the potential producer of bacterial nanocellulose. No report is available in the literature, on the use of gram flour and table sugar for the screening of nanocellulose-producing isolates. Since commercially used, Hestrin-Schramm medium is expensive for the isolation of nanocellulose-producing micro-organisms, the possibility of using gram flour-table sugar medium was investigated in this work. Qualitative screening of micro-organisms was done using cost-effective medium, i.e., gram flour-table sugar medium. Qualitative analysis of various nanocellulose-producing bacteria depicted that cellulose layer production occurred on both HS medium and gram flour-table sugar medium. The yield of nanocellulose was also better on air-liquid surface in case of gram flour-table sugar medium as compared to HS medium. 16S rRNA was used for molecular characterization of bacterial strain and the best nanocellulose producer was identified as Novacetimonas hansenii BMK-3_NC240423 (isolated from rotten banana). FTIR and FE-SEM studies of nanocellulose pellicle produced on HS medium and gram flour-table sugar medium demonstrated equivalent structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The cost of newly designed medium (0.01967 $/L) is nearly 90 times lower than the Hestrin-Schramm medium (1.748 $/L), which makes the screening of nanocellulose producers very cost-effective. A strategy of using gram flour extract-table sugar medium for the screening of nanocellulose-producing micro-organisms is a novel approach, which will drastically reduce the screening associated cost of cellulose-producing micro-organisms and also motivate the researchers/industries for comprehensive screening programme for getting high cellulose-producing microbes.

From Cirrhosis to the Dysbiosis (A Loop of Cure or Complications?).

Gut dysbiosis and liver cirrhosis are two corelated complications that highly disturbs the metabolism of a normal human body. Liver cirrhosis is scarring of the hepatic tissue and gut dysbiosis is the imbalance in the microbiome of the gut. Gut dysbiosis in cirrhosis occurs due to increased permeability of the intestinal membrane which might induce immune responses and damage the normal functioning of the body. Dysbiosis can cause liver damage from cirrhosis and can further lead to liver failure by hepatocellular carcinoma. In this review we discuss if eubiosis can revert the poorly functioning cirrhotic liver to normal functioning state? A normal microbiome converts various liver products into usable forms that regulates the overgrowth of microbiome in the gut. The imbalance caused by dysbiosis retards the normal functioning of liver and increases the complications. To correct this dysbiosis, measures like use of antibiotics with probiotics and prebiotics are used. This correction of the gut microbiome serves as a ray of hope to recover from this chronic illness. In case of alcohol induced liver cirrhosis, intervention of microbes can possibly be helpful in modulating the addiction as well as associated complications like depression as microbes are known to produce and consume neurotransmitters that are involved in alcohol addiction. Hence a correction of gut liver brain axis using microbiome can be a milestone achieved not only for treatment of liver cirrhosis but also for helping alcohol addicts quit and live a healthy or at least a near healthy life.

Bacterial cellulose: Nature's greener tool for industries.

Bacteria are considered mini chemical factories that help us in providing a wide range of products for various purposes. These days, bacterial cellulose (BC) is getting attention by researchers due to its quality, eco-friendly nature, and excellent physical-mechanical qualities. It is being used in the fabrication of nanocomposites. Its nanocomposites can be used in various industries, including medicine, food, leather, textiles, environment, electronics, and cosmetics. This area of research is emerging and still in its infancy stage, as new applications are still coming up. Most of the work on BC has been done during the last two decades and serious inputs are required in this direction in order to make the production process commercially viable and ultimately the application part. Biowastes, such as fruits and vegetables wastes, can be used as a cost-effective medium to minimize the cost for large-scale production of BC-based nanocomposites thus will valorize the biowaste material into a valuable product. Using biowaste as media will also aid in better waste management along with reduction in detrimental environmental effects. This review will help the readers to understand the potential applications of BC and its nanocomposites as well as their vital role in our daily lives.

New Water-Soluble Magnetic Field-Induced Drug Delivery System Obtained Via Preferential Molecular Marriage over Narcissistic Self-Sorting.

Nanomaterials that respond to stimuli are of considerable interest for drug delivery applications. Drug delivery has been a leading challenge when it comes to the externally triggered controlled release of hydrophobic drugs. The present paper describes a unique arrangement of polymers in a competitive environment derived from the dynamic self-sorting behavior of the hydrophobic chains of amphiphilic mPEG-PLLA and poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles IONP@PLLA to achieve a core-shell structure in which the hydrophobic PLLA part acts as a dense core and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as an uncrowded shell. By using irreversible covalent interactions created by hydrophobic polymer-functionalized IONPs, it was possible to selectively form socially self-sorted nanocarriers (SS-NCs) with a higher hydrophobic core than the hydrophilic shell over narcissistic self-sorted nanocarriers (NS-NCs), that is, homo-micelles of amphiphilic polymers. The higher hydrophobic core of SS-NCs is indeed helpful in achieving higher drug [doxorubicin (DOX)] loading and encapsulation efficiencies of around 17 and 90%, respectively, over 10.3 and 65.6% for NS-NCs. Furthermore, due to the presence of IONPs and the densely packed hydrophobic compartments, the controlled release of DOX was facilitated by direct magnetism and temperature stimulation when an alternating magnetic field (AMF) was applied. An appreciably higher rate of drug release (∼50%) than that without AMF (∼18%) was achieved under ambient conditions in 24 h. The present study, therefore, proposes a new drug delivery system that exceeds homo-micelles and adds an extra feature of manipulating drug release through magnetism and temperature, that is, hyperthermia.

An eco-friendly biocatalytic process for producing better quality paper from sugarcane bagasse using ultrafiltered enzymes concoction.

In the current study, pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse has been carried out with ultrafiltered xylano-pectinolytic enzymes, before conventional chemical bleaching process. Optimized enzymatic dose (4 IU xylanase and 1.2 IU pectinase per g of oven dried pulp) and retention time (180 min) were determined on the basis of maximum decrement in kappa number (from 20.93 to 15.32), release of maximum sugars (7.4 mg/g) as well as attainment of maximum brightness (25.1% ISO), whiteness (from - 57.3 to - 41.9) and minimum yellowness (from 48.7 to 35.3) of the pulp samples. Enzymatically treated samples also showed release of phenolic, lignin and hydrophobic compounds in their filtrates. Nearly 30% decrement in the exhaustion of bleaching chemical dose was detected as compared to control samples. The physical properties such as tear index, burst index, double fold number, breaking length, gurley porosity and viscosity of enzymo-chemically treated bagasse pulp samples were improved by 6.68%, 33.86%, 22.92%, 13.43%, 17.5% and 9.64%, respectively. Additionally, a decrement of 36.75% and 28.29% in the values of BOD and COD of the effluents was also noted, which demonstrated the fact that, inclusion of enzymes in chemical based protocols of paper and pulp industries could be a highly beneficial and eco-friendly approach in upcoming decades. This is the first report mentioning the effect of ultrafiltered xylano-pectinolytic enzymes concoction on sugarcane bagasse pulp.

A systematic study to unravel the potential of using polysaccharides based organic-nanoparticles versus hybrid-nanoparticles for pesticide delivery.

To daze conventional pesticide release limitations, nanotechnology-mediated pesticide delivery using natural polymers has been actively investigated. However, the lack of information on what are the beneficial/non-beneficial aspects of using hybrid- and organic-nanoparticles (NP) and among the polysaccharides which are better suited concerning pesticide loading efficiency (PLE wt%), entrapment efficiency, and sustained pesticide release (SPR %) has prompted us to investigate this study. In this report, we systematically investigated a series of polysaccharides such as starch (S), cellulose (C), aminocellulose (AC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) coated on magnetite NP (MNP, Fe3O4) and complete organic nanocarrier systems (starch and cellulose) that have no MNP part were compared for the PLE wt% and SPR % efficiencies for chlorpyrifos (ChP) insecticide. Overall, all nanocarriers (NCs) have shown good to excellent PLE wt% due to the smaller-sized NP obtained through optimal conditions. However, among the hybrid polysaccharides studied, starch MNP has shown a maximum PLE of 111 wt% in comparison with other polysaccharides (80-94 wt%) coated hybrid-NCs as well as with organic-NCs (81-87 wt%). The use of inorganic support does improve the PLE wt% markedly for starch but not for cellulose derivatives. Similarly, the SPR results of S-NP showed a remarkably better sustained release profile for ChP of 88% in 14 d. In contrast, other unfunctionalized and functionalized celluloses exhibited poor release profiles of 60%-20% for the same period. This study may help the researchers choose the right system for designing and achieving enhanced pesticide efficiency.

Environmental pollution reducing strategy for scouring of undegummed sisal fibers using xylanase and pectinase enzymes.

This study was undertaken to investigate the potential of bioscouring in the processing of undegummed sisal fibers, using xylano-pectinolytic enzymes. Optimum bioscouring was obtained at pH 8.5 and 50 mM buffer molarity, using xylanase (10 IU) and pectinase (8 IU), with a material to liquor proportion of 1:25 (g:ml), EDTA (2 mM) and Tween 80 (0.5%), at 50 °C temperature with agitation rate of 55 rpm and treatment period of 60 min. Enzymatic treatment of sisal fibers enhanced the brightness and whiteness by 11.52 and 6.83%, respectively, and reduced the yellowness by 7.14% in comparison to control. The use of xylanase and pectinase enzymes completely replaced the chemical scouring method for removing non-cellulosic impurities. Thus, enzymatic scouring is energy saving and ecofriendly, since it completely eliminated the use of toxic chemicals used in alkaline scouring. An increase of 23.75% and 11.58% in brightness and whiteness of enzymatically scoured cum bleached fibers, as compared to chemically scoured cum bleached fibers was finally obtained, along with reduction in yellowness by 27.99%. This is the first report demonstrating environmentally sustainable enzymatic approach for scouring of undegummed sisal fibers, using enzymes, simultaneously produced from a bacterial isolate.

High-resolution genetic mapping of a novel bacterial blight resistance gene xa-45(t) identified from Oryza glaberrima and transferred to Oryza sativa.

KEY MESSAGE: A novel recessive bacterial blight resistance locus designated as a xa-45(t) was identified from Oryza glaberrima accession IRGC 102600B, transferred to O. sativa and mapped to the long arm of chromosome 8 using ddRAD sequencing approach. The identified QTL spans 80 kb region on Nipponbare reference genome IRGSP-1.0 and contains 9 candidate genes. An STS marker developed from the locus LOC_Os08g42410 was found co-segregating with the trait and will be useful for marker-assisted transfer of this recessive resistance gene in breeding programs. Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, is one of the major constraints of rice productivity in Southeast Asia. In spite of having 44 bacterial blight resistance genes from cultivated rice and wild species, the durability of resistance is always at stake due to the continually evolving nature of the pathogen and lack of suitable chemical control. Here, we report high-resolution genetic mapping of a novel bacterial blight resistance gene tentatively designated as a xa-45(t) from an introgression line derived from Oryza glaberrima accession IRGC 102600B. This introgression line was crossed with the susceptible rice indica cultivar cv. Pusa 44 to generate F2 and F2:3 populations for inheritance and mapping studies. The inheritance studies revealed the presence of single recessive locus controlling resistance to the Xanthomonas pathotype seven. A high-density linkage map was constructed using double-digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing of 96 F2 populations along with the parents. The QTL mapping identified a major locus on the long arm of rice chromosome 8 with a LOD score of 33.22 between the SNP markers C8.26737175 and C8.26818765. The peak marker, C8.26810477, explains 49.8% of the total phenotypic variance and was positioned at 202.90 cM on the linkage map. This major locus spans 80 kb region on Nipponbare reference genome IRGSP-1.0 and contains 9 candidate genes. A co-segregating STS marker was developed from the LOC_Os08g42410 for efficient transfer of this novel gene to elite cultivars.

Bio-degumming of banana fibers using eco-friendly crude xylano-pectinolytic enzymes.

In this study, the efficacy of xylano-pectinolytic enzymes in scouring of banana fibers has been reported. Maximum efficiency of bioscouring was recorded using xylanase and pectinase doses of 15 and 4.8 IU, respectively (produced by a bacterial isolate) at a material-to-liquor proportion of 1:25 having 8.5 pH, treatment time of 1 h, speed of 50 rpm, temperature 50 °C, 3 mM EDTA and 1% Tween-80, with maximum sugar release, enhanced fiber water absorbing power and the finest optical characteristics. Enzymatic treatment resulted in 13.27% increase in whiteness, 16.14% increase in brightness and 8.63% decrease in yellowness as compared to raw banana fibers. The bioscouring also resulted in 50% reduction in scouring chemicals, in order to achieve the similar optical characteristics as obtained by the chemically treated fibers with 100% scouring and bleaching. It decreased the consumption of environment polluting chemicals and energy. Therefore, this has proven to be an environment safe method for removing the non-cellulosic impurities. This is the first report mentioning the scouring of banana fibers using xylano-pectinolytic enzymes.

Cellulase and xylanase synergism in industrial biotechnology.

Biocatalysts provide a major advantage to bio-based economy over chemical catalysts by catalyzing various useful transformations in an environment friendly manner along with other major benefits of selectivity, specificity, and low energy consumption. Since last decade, cellulase is the 3rd highest used enzyme in industry in various processes. Xylanase is also one amongst the widely used enzymes, and many industrial applications require synergistic action of both of these enzymes. These applications predominantly include bioethanol production, deinking of waste paper, animal feed processing, food processing, paper and pulp production, removal of fine fibers from textile material (biostoning), and pharmaceuticals. These enzymes are produced by microorganisms (fungi and bacteria), and hence, the microorganisms producing both cellulases and xylanases are in high demand by these industries. This review focuses on the synergistic applications of cellulase and xylanase enzymes across various industrial sectors. It also discusses the potential applications and the need of the microbial systems (fungi and bacteria) secreting both of these enzymes and the future prospects of their development into an integral part of various industrial processes.

Simultaneous production of industrially important alkaline xylanase-pectinase enzymes by a bacterium at low cost under solid-state fermentation conditions.

Simultaneous production of alkaline xylanase and all seven types of pectinases by a bacterial isolate, under solid-state fermentation was checked in this study. Under optimized conditions, high concurrent production of xylanase (22,800 ± 578 IU/g substrate) and pectinase (4,832 ± 189 IU/g substrate) was achieved. The different types of pectinases produced were exo-polymethylgalacturonase (782 IU/g), endo-polymethylgalacturonase (6.42 U/g), exo-polygalacturonase (2,250 IU/g), endo-polygalacturonase (11.57 U/g), polymethylgalacturonate lyase (53.99 IU/g), polygalacturonate lyase (59.78 IU/g), and pectin esterase (5.78 IU/g). Wheat bran resulted in the highest titer of both enzymes. The maximum xylanase-pectinase yield was detected after 7 days of incubation with 2 mM MgSO4 and 1.5 g/L K2 HPO4 at wheat bran to moisture ratio 1:1.5 (w/v), media to flask volume ratio 1:25, pH 7.0, temperature 37 °C, and inoculum size 15%. Xylanase was most stable at pH 8.0, retained more than 75% activity up to 24 H, whereas pectinase was most stable at pH 9.0, having full activity even after 24 H. At 45 °C, the xylanase showed 82% residual activity after 6 H of incubation. The pectinase was 97% and 61% stable up to 3 H at 50 and 55 °C, respectively. This is the first report showing the production of xylanase-pectinases by bacterium along with high titer of seven types of pectinases, suitable for industries.

Cost-effective and concurrent production of industrially valuable xylano-pectinolytic enzymes by a bacterial isolate Bacillus pumilus AJK.

Simultaneous production of xylanase and pectinase by Bacillus pumilus AJK under submerged fermentation was investigated in this study. Under optimized conditions, it produced 315 ± 16 IU/mL acidic xylanase, 290 ± 20 IU/mL alkaline xylanase, and 88 ± 9 IU/mL pectinase. The production of xylano-pectinolytic enzymes was the highest after inoculating media (containing 2% each of wheat bran and Citrus limetta peel, 0.5% peptone, 10 mM MgSO4, pH 7.0) with 2% of 21-hr-old culture and incubated at 37°C for 60 hr at 200 rpm. Xylanase retained 100% activity from pH 6.0 to10.0 after 3 hr of incubation, while pectinase showed 100% stability from pH 6.0 to 9.0 even after 6 hr of incubation. Cost-effective and concurrent production of xylanase and pectinase by a bacterial isolate in the same production media suggests its potential for various biotechnological applications. This is the first report of simultaneous production of industrially important extracellular xylano-pectinolytic enzymes by B. pumilus.

Characterization of industrially-valuable xylano-pectinolytic enzymes produced concurrently by a novel isolate of Bacillus pumilus.

Xylanase and polygalacturonase were concurrently produced by a novel alkalo-thermotolerant Bacillus pumilus AJK. They were purified and characterized to evaluate their potential for various industrial applications. Xylanase was purified to 19-fold with 67 % recovery and polygalacturonase up to 23-fold with 75 % recovery. Existence of multiple forms of xylanase was indicated by its elution-profile through Sephadex G-100 as two peaks, xylanase-I and xylanase-II, with molecular weights of ~24.5 and ~13 kDa, respectively, and by the presence of two pH optima, one at pH 6.0 and other at pH 8.5. The molecular weight of polygalacturonase was ~40 kDa by gel-filtration chromatography. Zymographic studies confirmed the presence of seven isozymic forms of xylanase. Xylanase and polygalacturonase are stable over a broad range of pH and temperature.

Antioxidants from defatted Indian Mustard (Brassica Juncea) protect biomolecules against in vitro oxidation.

Indian mustard seeds were defatted by distillation with hexane and the residue extracted with methanol was analyzed for potential antioxidants; ascorbate, riboflavin, and polyphenols. Gallic acid (129.796 µg), caffeic acid (753.455 µg), quercetin (478.352 µg) and kaempferol (48.060 µg)/g dry seeds were identified by HPLC analysis of the extract. DPPH free radical scavenging activity and protection of lipids, proteins and DNA against metal induced oxidation was examined. Defatted mustard seed remnant had excellent free radical scavenging activity and protects biomolecules with IC50 value 2.0-2.25 mg dry seed weight. Significant content of polyphenols in methanol extract of defatted seeds accounts for high antioxidant potential. We are the first to report the detailed analysis of antioxidant composition and protection of biomolecules against oxidative damage by methanol extract of mustard seed remnant after oil extraction.

Gold Polymer Nanomaterials: A Promising Approach for Enhanced Biomolecular Imaging.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess unique optical properties, making them highly attractive nanomaterials for biomedical research. By exploiting the diverse optical characteristics of various gold nanostructures, significant enhancements can be achieved in biosensing and biomedical imaging fields. The potential of AuNPs can be enhanced by creating hybrid nanocomposites with polymers, which offer supplementary functionalities, responsiveness, and enhanced biocompatibility. Moreover, polymers can modify the surface charges of AuNPs, thereby improving or controlling the efficiency of cellular uptake and the distribution of these nanoparticles within the body. Polymer modification using AuNPs offers a wide array of benefits, including improved sensitivity, specificity, speed, contrast, resolution, and penetration depth. By incorporating AuNPs into the polymer matrix, these enhancements synergistically enhance the overall performance of various applications. This versatile approach opens promising possibilities in fields such as biomedicine, nanotechnology, and sensor development, providing a powerful platform for advanced research and technological innovations. In this review, the recent advancements in polymer-AuNPs synthesis and their applications in bioimaging will be covered. Prospects and challenges associated with polymer-AuNPs-based bioimaging agents in preclinical and clinical investigations will be discussed.

Valorisation of wheat straw into paper with improved quality characteristics using ultrafiltered xylano-pectinolytic pulping approach.

This study has been conducted to assess the pulpability of ultrafiltered pectinase and xylanase in pulping of wheat straw. Best biopulping conditions were achieved using 107 and 250 IU of pectinase and xylanase, respectively, per gram of wheat straw, 180 min of treatment period, one gram: 10 m1 material to liquor ratio, 8.5 pH and 55 °C temperature. Ultrafiltered enzymatic treatment improved the pulp yield (6.18%), brightness (17.83%), along with reduced rejections (61.01%) and kappa number (16.95%) as compared to chemically synthesized pulp. Biopulping of wheat straw saved 14% alkali dose, with nearly same optical properties, as obtained under 100% alkali dose. Bio-chemically pulped samples resulted an increase in breaking length, tear index, burst index, viscosity, double fold and Gurley porosity by 6.05%, 18.64%, 26.42%, 7.94%, 21.6% and 15.38%, respectively, in comparison to control pulp samples. Bleached-biopulped samples showed an improvement in breaking length, tear index, burst index, viscosity, double fold number, and Gurley porosity by 7.39%, 3.55%, 28.82%, 9.1%, 53.66%, and 30.95% respectively. Thus, biopulping of wheat straw with ultrafiltered enzymes lowers alkali consumption and also improves the paper quality. This is the first study reporting, eco-friendly biopulping, for producing better quality wheat straw pulp, using ultrafiltered enzymes.

Association of the CDH13 gene variant rs9940180 with schizophrenia risk in North Indian population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cadherin13 (CDH13) is an uncommon cadherin family member, lacking a transmembrane domain, and attaches via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor to the peripheral surface of the cell membrane. CDH13 plays an important role in the development and maintenance of axonal growth cones, synapse morphogenesis, and the embryonic neural tube. Cadherin superfamily genes have been associated with many neuropsychiatric diseases. Studies have shown the Cadherin13 gene as a risk locus for Schizophrenia (SCZ). In this study, we investigated CDH13 gene variants rs7204454 in the promotor region and rs9940180 in the intronic region of the gene with susceptibility to SCZ risk in the population of Jammu region of J&K, India. METHODS: The genotyping was performed using TaqMan assay, where 560 individuals, comprising 164 patients and 396 healthy controls, were genotyped. RESULTS: The result of the study suggested rs9940180 was significantly found to be associated with Schizophrenia and the "C" allele of rs9940180 was associated with increased risk for SCZ (P = 0.03817; OR = 1.527; 95% CI, 1.022-2.28) whereas the other variant rs7204454 of CDH13 gene did not show significant association with schizophrenia risk with P = 0.8827, OR = 0.582-1.33 at 95% CI. CONCLUSION: This is the first report suggesting a significant association of polymorphism at CDH13 rs9940180 with Schizophrenia in the Dogra population group of the Jammu region. The current study offers a piece of important information on the genetic reason for CDH13 in the Jammu population of J&K. Also, it supports the GWAS findings on the correlation of CDH13 in schizophrenia.

Production of eco-friendly and better-quality sugarcane bagasse paper using crude xylanase and pectinase biopulping strategy.

This research aimed to investigate the efficiency of crude xylanase-pectinase in pulping of sugarcane bagasse. Optimum biopulping was obtained, using xylanase-pectinase dose 200-60 IU/g, bagasse/liquid ratio 1:10 and 1.0% Tween 80 concentration at 55 °C temperature, pH 8.5 and period of treatment 180 min. Treatment of sugarcane bagasse samples with these enzymes generated pulp with lower rejections (58.76%), total solids (12.64%), kappa number (47.77%), higher screened pulp yield (10.66%), along with enhanced optical and physical properties, in comparison with a chemical pulp. Bagasse biopulping resulted in a 13% decrease in alkali dose to obtain the optical and physical properties similar to those achieved under the 100% alkali dose. The breaking length, burst factor, tear index, double fold, gurley porosity and viscosity were improved by 15.19, 37.64, 2.47, 37.77, 35 and 23.17%, respectively, after bleaching treatment of biopulped samples. Thus, enzymatic pulping is an eco-friendly environmentally sustainable approach, since it reduces the use of pulping chemicals and simultaneously improves the paper quality. This is the first report, showing pulping of sugarcane bagasse, with crude xylanase-pectinase, produced by an isolate.

Proficient bioconversion of rice straw biomass to bioethanol using a novel combinatorial pretreatment approach based on deep eutectic solvent, microwave irradiation and laccase.

Current study is the first report of the combined application of chemical (deep eutectic solvent), physical (microwave irradiation) and biological (laccase) pretreatment strategies for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of rice straw biomass. Pretreated rice straw biomass was saccharified by cellulase/xylanase from Aspergillus japonicus DSB2 to get a sugar yield of 252.36 mg/g biomass. Design of Experiment based optimization of pretreatment and saccharification variables increased the total sugar yield by 1.67 times (421.5 mg/g biomass, saccharification efficiency 72.6%). Sugary hydrolysate was ethanol-fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia stipitis to achieve an ethanol yield of 214 mg/g biomass (bioconversion efficiency 72.5%). Structural/chemical aberrations induced in the biomass due to pretreatment were elucidated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to unravel the pretreatment mechanisms. Combined application of various physico-chemical/biological pretreatment may be a promising approach for proficient bioconversion of rice straw biomass.