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Enzymatic hydrolysis contributes to obtaining fermentable sugars using pretreated lignocellulose materials for bioethanol generation. Unfortunately, the pretreatment of lignocellulose causes low substrate enzymatic hydrolysis, which is due to the structure changes of lignin to produce main phenolic by-products and non-productive cellulase adsorption. It is reported that modified lignin enhances the speed of enzymatic hydrolysis through single means to decrease the negative effects of fermentation inhibitors or non-productive cellulase adsorption. However, a suitable modified lignin should be selected to simultaneously reduce the fermentation inhibitors concentration and non-productive cellulase adsorption for saving resources and maximizing the enzymatic hydrolysis productivity. Meanwhile, the adsorption micro-mechanisms of modified lignin with fermentation inhibitors and cellulase remain elusive. In this review, different pretreatment effects toward lignin structure, and their impacts on subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis are analyzed. The main modification methods for lignin are presented. Density functional theory is used to screen suitable modification methods for the simultaneous reduction of fermentation inhibitors and non-productive cellulase adsorption. Lignin-fermentation inhibitors and lignin-cellulase interaction mechanisms are discussed using different advanced analysis techniques. This article addresses the gap in previous reviews concerning the application of modified lignin in the enhancement of bioethanol production. For the first time, based on existing studies, this work posits the hypothesis of applying theoretical simulations to screen efficient modified lignin-based adsorbents, in order to achieve a dual optimization of the detoxification and saccharification processes. We aim to improve the integrated lignocellulose transformation procedure for the effective generation of cleaner bioethanol. [Display omitted] • Effects of pretreatment in lignin structure and enzymatic hydrolysis are analyzed. • Lignin modification is the promising enhancement process to bioethanol production. • DFT calculation contributes to screening the suitable lignin modification methods. • Advanced methods to study inhibitors-lignin-cellulase interactions are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acidification and fermentation preserved a high BSFL-rearing performance. • Acidification and fermentation contribute to the all-year provision of feedstock. • Acidification led to a higher bioconversion rate compared to fermentation. • The nutrient-rich feedstock did not benefit from inoculating lactic acid bacteria. Maintaining a consistent supply of feedstock for efficient bioconversion of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) presents challenges due to the fluctuating availability of biowastes and agri-food products. To address the challenge of consistent feedstock supply for BSFL, this study investigated the influence of three preservation methods: wild fermentation, inoculated fermentation, and acidification on agri-food by-products applied over three storage durations (1, 7, and 14 days), evaluating their impact on BSFL bioconversion, and feedstock nutrient and microbiota composition. The preserved feedstocks were characterized for gross nutrient, sugar, fermentation metabolite, and bacterial community analyses. All feedstock preservation methods and storage durations had a high bioconversion rate (21–25 % dry mass) and wet larval mass (170–196 mg). Notably, 7-and-14-day acidified feedstock had a significantly higher bioconversion rate compared to fermented feedstock. Acidification preserved feedstock nutrients best with only a 10 % difference compared to initial nutrient values. Fermentation produced typical lactic acid fermentation metabolites with reducing sugar contents; however, adding a lactic acid bacterial inoculum (7 log 10 CFU kg feedstock−1) had no benefit, presumably due to the high nutrient content and existing richness in lactic acid bacteria. Preservations had little influence on Enterobacteriaceae (6.2–7.5 log 10 CFU g−1) in freshly harvested larvae. Future research should assess the acidification and fermentation of different BSFL feedstocks and investigate the roles of feedstock pH, organic acids, and fermentation metabolites in more detail. Therefore, this study advances toward reliable and efficient insect-based nutrient recovery from agri-food by-products within the food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areca nut husk (ANH) holds promise as a viable biomass source for xylose production. Xylose is a precursor for various biochemicals. However, the recalcitrant nature of ANH makes saccharification more complex. To address this, lime and acid pretreatments were carried out to enhance the susceptibility of biomass to saccharification. Before this, a compositional analysis was conducted to determine the initial constituents of the feedstock. Saccharification was conducted under the following conditions: 2% (wV−1) substrate loading, 100 rpm agitation, and 30 °C hydrolysis temperature for 12 h hydrolysis time at pH 4.5 to 5.0. However, parameters like xylanase enzyme loading were varied to enhance the saccharification of the ANH. The results demonstrated that acid‐treated husk (ATH), lime‐treated husk (LTH), and raw husk (RH) achieved the highest yield (gg−1) of reducing sugar, approximately 90, 83, and 15%, respectively, at an enzyme loading of 15.0 IUg−1. Various analytical techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to examine structural changes in the native, pretreated, and saccharified residues of ANH. The analysis revealed that a significant amount of partial crystalline and amorphous cellulose in the ANH biomass was hydrolyzed during the saccharification process. However, saccharification also led to the removal of amorphous substances, disruption of the crystalline structure, and conversion of crystalline regions into amorphous domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) are widely used in agriculture because of their low dosage, low cost, and high selectivity. However, due to improper use and lack of effective management, their residues pose a threat to the human health through environment and food pollution. Therefore, there is a need for simple, quick, economical, and effective methods to analyze SUHs in plant-derived foods, crops, and environmental samples. The present article presents a comprehensive review of the pretreatment and analytical technologies used for SUHs in various sample matrices, focusing on the developments since 2010. The main pretreatment methods include liquid–liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS, and different microextraction methods, whereas analytical methods mainly include liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, capillary electrophoresis, among others. In addition, the present study also compared the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and the future development is prospected. Highlight: Progress in pretreatment and analytical methods of sulfonylurea herbicides are summarized. Pros and cons of the pretreatment and determination methods have been given. Novel materials in solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction are depicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins (ANCs), a kind of natural pigments, are widely present in food substrates. Evidence has shown that ANCs can promote health in terms of anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammation. However, the oxidative stability of ANCs limits accurate quantitation and analysis. Therefore, faster, more accurate, and highly sensitive extraction and determination methods are necessary for understanding the role of ANCs in medicine and food. This review presents an updated overview of pretreatment and detection techniques for ANCs in various food substrates since 2015. Liquid-liquid extraction and various green solvent extraction methods, such as accelerated solvents extraction, deep eutectic solvents extraction, ionic liquids extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction, are commonly used pretreatment methods for extraction and purification of ANCs. Liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors (tandem mass spectrometry and UV detectors) and spectrophotometry methods are some of the determination methods for ANC. This study has updated, compared, and discussed different pretreatment and analysis methods. Moreover, the advanced methods and development prospects in this field are comprehensively summarized, which can provide references for further utilization of ANCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the Si3N4 powder prepared is not pure enough. Therefore, this work introduces a novel method of preparing high‐purity α‐Si3N4 powder. Si3N4 powder with high α phase content was prepared via a unique two‐stage temperature‐rise (TSTR) process, using KCl and metal Co as dual catalysts through low‐temperature pretreatment for silicon powder and subsequent high‐temperature nitriding reaction. Molten KCl insulates silicon particles in three contact modes during low‐temperature pretreatment, promoting complete and uniform nitriding and absorbing the heat released during the reaction. In addition, Co forms a Co–Si liquid phase, causing the reaction to transition into a gas–liquid–solid reaction with lower potential energy, thereby reducing the reaction temperature. Through the synergistic effect of the two catalysts and optimized unique TSTR process, Si3N4 powder can be obtained at 1250°C, boasting a remarkably high α phase content of 99.1%, distinguished by its layered, needle‐like, and spherical structures. The detailed experiments first provide a comprehensive explanation of the growth mechanism of α‐Si3N4. This innovative method for preparing Si3N4 powder offers a new approach to the facile production of high‐purity phase ceramic powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment is one of the bottlenecks in the cost and energy-efficient biomass valorization. Deep eutectic solvents are potential candidates for being used to address these challenges. In this work, the deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride, and acetic acid was studied for its use in wheat straw fractionation. The pretreated biomass was assessed concerning the lignin and glucan content. Under optimized time and temperature conditions, defined using Doehlert matrix chemometric tool, of 3 h 47 min and 139.6 °C, the processed wheat straw contained as much as 42.5 ± 0.42 wt.% and 38.59 ± 1.26 wt.% of glucan and lignin contents, respectively. The need for biomass washing after the pretreatment with deep eutectic solvents and before the enzymatic hydrolysis step was also evaluated. The obtained enzymatic hydrolysis results, i.e., glucan to glucose yield of 27.13 ± 0.25 vs. 25.73 ± 0.08 for washed or unwashed biomass correspondingly, are equally good substrates. Fractal kinetic analysis of the data showed similar values of k and h for both glucose and xylose reactions between washed and unwashed biomass. This confirmed that biomass washing is an unnecessary step, which in turn opens room for biomass processing intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield of green energy from solid-state anaerobic co-digestion (SSAD) has recently been enhanced by incorporating innovative pretreatment methods and nanoparticles. However, the environmental consequences of employing new processes have not been fully examined. In this study, the environmental impacts of three high-methane-yielding scenarios including SSAD of corn stover blended with dairy manure (DM) denoted as (SYM1), calcium hydroxide-pretreated corn stover (CpCS) blended with DM (SYM2), and the CpCS blended with DM and nanoparticles (SYM3) were assessed and compared the baselines of solid-state and semi-solid-state anaerobic digestion using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The approach investigated the best management practices that would result in high methane yield and low environmental impact. Results of the life cycle assessment indicate the inclusion of calcium hydroxide and nanoparticle has minimal negative environmental impact. There was an environmental gain in GWP when corn stover was co-digestion with DM (SYM1) relative to DM mono-digestions (baselines) and the carbon footprint of SYM1 was less by more than 85% compared to SYM2 and SYM3. However, the large volume of untreated corn stover harnessed for SYM1 scenario resulted in over 75% fossil fuel depletion compared to the other scenarios. The surplus methane from the SYM3 (at least twofold of other scenarios and baselines) in conjunction with being the least with the environmental implication makes the scenario the most attractive option for on-farm practice capable of harnessing the growing organic waste volume. These outcomes can guide trade-off between pretreatment and nanoparticle application to reduce solid-state anaerobic digestion's negative environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports process development for the extraction of silica from paddy straw pretreated with green solvent and its characterization. Paddy straw pretreated with ethyl lactate resulted in a maximum reduction of total solids (11.78%), volatile solids (1.66%), cellulose (4.38%), hemicellulose (28.00%) and lignin (9.64%), while the increase in ash and silica content by 7.18 and 37.30%, respectively. Silica was extracted from 1% pretreated paddy straw using base dissolution and acid precipitation methods and was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) using three parameters, viz. slurry concentration, and NaOH and HCl normalities to improve the silica yield. Maximum silica yield of 1.57 g per 2.5 g paddy straw ash (PSA) with 62.8% recovery was achieved under the optimized conditions of 2.50% slurry concentration, 0.55 N NaOH and 1.50 N HCl. Physico-chemical characterization by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the purity of extracted silica particles by IR peak patterns. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed an agglomerate form of 50–200 nm amorphous silica. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy of residual ash inferred its potential as fertilizer in the fields. Hence, green solvent pretreated silica extraction from paddy straw improved the commercial value of underutilized paddy straw and reduced environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the presence of an alkaline catalyst is one of the major pretreatment processes that recover cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin at effective process conditions and also for the production of bioethanol. Replacement of conventional catalysts with waste‐derived catalysts in the pretreatment process will be helpful for the development of low‐cost biorefinery. The continuous impact of different mass transfer properties during the chemical pretreatment of LCB will affect the final yield of products at a high reaction time and has been reviewed in the current study. Intraparticle diffusion of an alkaline catalyst into LCB is going to determine the diffusion of the selected catalyst within the porous biomass structure, which helps in the enhancement of the final yield of the product recovery at low‐process conditions. The diffusion of the synthesized catalyst within the selected biomass during the chemical pretreatment process is a rate‐limiting step that influences the final recovery yield of desired products. Enhancement of the biomass pretreatment reaction through the assessment of the diffusivity using the modified Nernst–Einstein relation is also discussed. Determination of different unique mass transfer properties rate of diffusion, diffusivity flux, and mass transfer coefficient are also to be analyzed to advance the reaction rate of the pretreatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extortionate demand of global bioethanol has led to a burgeoning interest in finding the alternative sources of biofuel. For this purpose, researchers are interested in microalgae because of its biorefinery applications and ability to produce biofuels, and other value-added products. Bioethanol is the most extensively used renewable fuel and is one of the realistic candidates for addressing environmental issues and mitigating the low base of oil supply. Chlorella sorokiniana can be considered as the most eminent source of bioethanol due to the accumulation of high levels of carbohydrates which can significantly be converted into renewable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly bioethanol. Keeping in view the importance of pretreatment for the efficient production of biofuels, the present study was targeted to determine the optimum conditions required for the chemical pretreatment. The selected microalgae strain was cultivated under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic conditions at laboratory and pilot scales. For mixotrophic cultivation, 0.2% (v/w) of molasses was used as an organic source of carbon. The reducing sugar content of Chlorella sp. was studied by pretreating the dried biomass with dilute H2SO4 and NaOH at 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% (v/v) concentrations. Mixotrophic cultivation conditions along with 3% H2SO4 pretreatment showed the most efficient recovery of entrapped sugars from algal cell wall consequently producing maximum amount of bioethanol. At lab scale, the biomass cultivated under photoautotrophic and mixotrophic conditions and pretreated with 3% acid produced maximum of 10.96 and 16.07 g/L ethanol, respectively, while maximum ethanol production of biomass cultivated under mixotrophic conditions in alkaline pretreatment was 12.21 g/L at 9% NaOH and in biomass cultivated under photoautotrophic conditions maximum 9.89 g/L of ethanol production was estimated at 5% NaOH. During pilot-scale cultivation, the mixotrophically cultivated biomass pretreated with acidic medium produced 13.45 ± 4.31 g/L ethanol and photoautotrophically cultivated biomass resulted into 10.8 ± 6.31 g/L of ethanol with 88 and 83% of substrate reduction, respectively. This study proofs that biomass of C. sorokiniana pretreated with H2SO4 can act as a possible alternative for the sustainable production of bioethanol. Optimum growth of C. sorokiniana by using molasses in mixotrophic culture conditions also addresses the ability of microalgae to treat wastewaters and use waste materials as a carbon source. For the commercial production of bioethanol from microalgae, results of the present study will be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the serious water crisis in the world and the use of saltwater resources of the seas and oceans as available water resources, desalination technology for these waters is to be raised in all societies of the world. Due to the protection and increasing efficiency of desalination methods, the design of a suitable pretreatment method for desalination of salt water has made the process more economic. The methodology used in this research for the analysis of technological schemes includes two groups of technological and economic indicators: (A) water quality data and (B) economic characteristics of the processes. The study is based on a set of experimental projections of water quality data after pretreatments, such as turbidity and the SDI15 (silt density index) index. These data were received from several full-scale systems and full-scale plants. These plants are (1) conventional pretreatment, (2) MF (microfilter) pretreatment, and (3) UF (ultrafilter) pretreatment method. The average SDI15 index of filtrate during the study time provided by the UF and MF systems was 1.5 and 2.9, respectively. The daily decay of permeability by UF and MF systems was 0.86% and 0.45%, respectively. The total cost of the produced water (including investment and O&M) for the conventional treatment full-scale plant, the pretreatment based on the MF membrane, and the UF membrane were obtained at approximately 0.42, 0.46, and 0.55euro/m3 of produced water. Membrane-based pretreatment is a competitive technological alternative to conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in rice straw production and their non-utilization is a major global challenge. Even though it is an eco-friendly feedstock for the bioconversion of energy production separation of cellulose from the rice straw fiber is one of the main limitations that obstruct the application of such lignocellulosic feedstock. In the present research work, acid-alkali pretreatment technologies were applied to the rice straw to increase enzymatic accessibility and improve cellulose digestibility. The rice straw was physically and chemically treated and the chemical pretreatment with 4% sodium hydroxide released a maximum cellulose of 120.33 mg/L. The constituents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were estimated while the functional groups were identified by using Infrared spectroscopy. Further, the morphological and structural characterization between the untreated and the treated rice straw were analyzed by Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) analysis which demonstrated a highly distorted structure in the pretreated biomass. Rice straw was used for the production of bioethanol, with simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) yielding higher ethanol (21.77%) than separate hydrolysis fermentation (SHF) (11.65%) by using commercial enzymes and yeast isolates, and optimal production conditions were determined. Pre-treating rice straw with 4% NaOH, optimized enzyme concentration (2:1:1), and SSF with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or 72-hour incubation at pH 4 yielded the highest bioethanol production. mutagenesis using UV rays and chemicals like Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) and Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) improved bioethanol yield, with EMS treatment exhibiting the most significant increase i.e. with the wild strain (21.77%) and with the mutant strain (24.29%) was achieved. Such a strategy will be eco-friendly and effective for the reduction of biomass and the production of bioethanol at a much lower cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, microplastics, especially marine microplastic pollution, have received global attention as a new type of environmental problem. The establishment of accurate and efficient methods for the detection of microplastics is the basis for in-depth research on the transport, transformation, fate, and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in the environment. Microplastics in seawater frequently mix with biological tissues, resulting in challenges when identifying samples. However, commonly used pretreatment protocols for microplastics often suffer from long digestion times, inadequate digestion, and the risk of potentially damaging microplastics. This study compared the digestion efficiencies of five digestion reagents and provided further insights into two advanced oxidation methods involving Fenton's reagent and an innovative alkaline K2S2O8 protocol based on sulfate and hydroxyl radicals. Using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and carbonyl index (CI) analyses, the status of microplastics after pretreatment was evaluated. The results revealed that the alkaline K2S2O8 method could enhance the reaction efficiency while reducing the potential for functional group damage during microplastic pretreatment. Moreover, the proposed K2S2O8 method was applied to the pretreatment of field seawater samples, and field microplastics were effectively separated from biologically rich samples. Thus, a digestion protocol based on alkaline K2S2O8 provides an effective way to isolate seawater microplastics from biologically rich samples. This study contributes to the development of efficiently microplastic monitoring and provides valuable insights into access to reliable data for fate and inventory of oceanic microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is one of the potential feedstocks for production of bioethanol. Among the challenges in the conversion of lignocellulosic material to bioethanol is pretreatment. This study aims to determine the optimum conditions of OPEFB pretreatment by using microwaves and aluminum salt catalysts, i.e., AlK(SO4)2 and Al2(SO4)3, for the production of reducing sugars that could be further fermented to bioethanol. The addition of inorganic salts, such as aluminum salt catalysts, during microwave heating enables to improve the results of biomass pretreatment. The optimization was conducted using the one factor at a time (OFAT) method. In Step 1, the factor optimized was the temperature (180–200 °C), while in Step 2 and Step 3 the factors optimized were the heating time (2–10 min), and the amount of catalysts (100–400 µmol/g biomass). The effects of the pretreatment could be seen clearly by the RSY obtained after enzymatic saccharification, based on the weight of pretreated OPEFB, with higher results on the OPEFB pretreated with microwave and AlK(SO4)2 or Al2(SO4)3 catalysts (55.08 or 55.75%, respectively) than those without the catalysts (38.32 or 38.36%, respectively). The total reducing sugar yield (RSY) from pretreatment hydrolysate and enzymatic saccharification was determined and used as a parameter in the optimization. The characteristics of pretreated OPEFB at optimum conditions were also compared with those of untreated OPEFB. Optimum conditions of OPEFB pretreatment by microwave heating with AlK(SO4)2 catalyst were 200 °C, 6 min, with 300 µmol catalyst/g biomass, whereas those with Al2(SO4)3 catalyst were 180 °C, 6 min, with 200 µmol catalyst/g biomass. At these conditions, the RSY reached 61.7 and 58.1% based on the initial biomass, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment is an important step in lignocellulosic bioethanol production which aims to reduce lignin content and break down lignocellulosic structure thereby increasing the accessibility of enzymes in hydrolysis. Therefore, this research explored the pretreatment process on oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) with CO2 impregnation followed by alkali explosion. EFB was impregnated with CO2 at 5 °C for 12 h. After impregnation, EFB was mixed with 2.5 M of NaOH solution (1:5 of S/L ratio) in an alkali explosion reactor. Alkali explosion was conducted at 150 °C, 4 kg/cm2 of pressure with the variation of reaction time for 15, 30, and 45 min. The parameters analyzed in this study include EFB recovery, EFB composition and characteristics, glucose yields, and ethanol yields. EFB composition was analyzed as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin while the characteristics of the EFB were examined in functional groups. The results indicated that combined pretreatment using CO2 impregnation followed by 15 min of alkali explosion obtained higher delignification of EFB, glucose, and ethanol yield than only alkali explosion for 30 min. The highest glucose and ethanol yields were 99.33 and 83.80 w/w% of glucose mass in EFB, respectively. These results prove that CO2 can be used as an impregnation agent in lignocellulosic pretreatment and could be combined with alkali explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient extraction of lignin from intricate lignocellulose is a challenge for the high-value utilization of lignocellulosic biomass in sustainable biorefinery. In this work, a p-toluene sulfonic acid-coupling ethylene glycol (PTSA/EG) pretreatment was developed to extract lignin from cornstalks. The results showed that the synergistic effect between p-toluene sulfonic acid and ethylene glycol resulted in an increase in the delignification ratio from 43.43 to 85.37% compared with PTSA aqueous pretreatment. When the concentration of PTSA was 5 wt.%, the delignification ratio reached 85.37% at 383.15 K under the PTSA/EG pretreatment. Moreover, the lignin fractions obtained by water precipitation have high purity (>90%) and a low molecular weight (1777~2271 Da). The fractionated lignin was depolymerized with Ru/C catalyst and methanol at 508.15 K for 3 h. When the pretreatment temperature is 368.15 K, the fractionated lignin has a good depolymerization performance, and the detected monomers yield reaches 17.46%. Overall, pretreatment using PTSA and EG could realize the disruption of the degradation barrier of lignocellulose and fractionate lignin with specific structures by adjusting the pretreatment conditions, which was conducive to commercial applications in biomass refining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafiltration (UF) technology is an efficient shale gas flowback water treatment method. However, severe membrane fouling is the primary restriction on the application of UF technology. Here, we studied the impact of three pretreatments: precipitative softening (PS), precipitative softening, followed by ozonation (PS-O) and ozonation, followed by precipitative softening (O-PS), on pollutants' removal efficiencies and membrane fouling. The results showed that (1) the hardness, bacteria, scaling trend and compatibility with formation water exceeded the requirements for water reuse; (2) pretreatments effectively increased water flux and prolonged ultrafiltration membrane life, and both of them followed the order of PS-O process > O-PS process > PS process; (3) the fouling mechanism was changed from the complete blocking model to the standard blocking model by the PS process and the addition of ozonation enhanced the correlation of standard blocking model; (4) the quality of fracturing liquid prepared by the effluent treated by the PS-O-UF process was the best and satisfied the requirements of slick water. This paper indicated that the PS-O-UF process was suitable for the treatment of Changning shale gas flowback water for reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the flocculation effect of single flocculants and compound flocculants on emulsified wastewater under different conditions was studied. The effect of flocculant type, dose, settling time and composite ratio of flocculant on the treatment of emulsified wastewater were investigated through single-factor condition tests, and then the optimal conditions of flocculants for treating emulsified wastewater were obtained. The results showed that the single inorganic flocculant could break the stable state of the emulsion when the pH was adjusted to 7 and formed tiny flocs, but it took a long time to settle down. The single organic flocculant had no flocculation effect. The inorganic–organic composite flocculants could effectively solve the problem of emulsion breaking and flocculation, and could form large flocs and alum flower formations at the same time, with mud and water effectively separated. The best conditions for the composite flocculants were as follows: under the condition of room temperature and pH 7, the dose of PFC was 2250 mg/L and APAM was 5 mg, the homogeneous stirring time was 10 min, and the settling time was 0.5 h. The removal rate of COD and turbidity reached 84.75% and 99.86%. The study could provide a new treatment idea and method for the pretreatment of stabilized high-turbidity wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative effects of the accelerating climate change due partly to fossil fuel consumption is calling for the rapid development of sustainable energies such as biohydrogen, which is produced using microorganisms. Here we review biohydrogen production from biomass, with focus on biomass pretreatment, fermentative production, factors affecting production, bioreactors, kinetics and modeling, and improved production with nanoparticles. Pretreatments include chemical, physical and biological methods. Hydrogen production is done by photo-fermentation or dark fermentation. Influencing factors comprise pH, temperature, hydraulic retention time, and the presence of fermentation inhibitors. Continuous stirred tank-, anaerobic fluidized bed-, anaerobic sequencing batch-, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket- and dynamic membrane reactors are used. Additives include cobalt, nickel and iron nanoparticles. Compared to thermochemical, photochemical and electrochemical processes, biohydrogen production needs more time but is easy to operate, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the process feasibility and cost function of bioethanol production, higher titres of biomass saccharifying cellulases need to be produced on commercial scale. Diverse lignocellulosic substrates including abundantly accessible paddy straw can be utilized as carbonaceous substrates for the production of cellulose hydrolysing enzymes. This study aims to meliorate milled and sequential acid/alkali pre-treated paddy straw as inducer-substrates for the synthesis of fungal secretomes from Penicillium mallochii repertoires under solid state and liquid shake flask fermentation (SSF and LSF, respectively). The analysis of enzymatic activities of the respective secretomes reinforced the cellulolytic potential of P. mallochii where the maximum cellulase production (Filter paper cellulase: 76.43, Carboxymethyl cellulase: 130.29, Avicelase: 18.6 and β-glucosidase: 83.59 U L−1) was exhibited under LSF conditions using pre-treated paddy straw as the inducer. The disorganisation of the cellulosic structure via hydrogen bond disruption, as indicated by FTIR analysis, after acid/alkali pretreatment allowed a better establishment of fungus on the substrate, thereby facilitating higher cellulase production. A maximum ethanol content of 11.63 g L−1 was obtained at 48 h of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using pre-hydrolysed paddy straw at 10% (w/v) solid loading and a cellulase dosage of 25 FPU gds−1. These results affirm the utilization of paddy straw for cellulase and ethanol production in an integrated bioprocess that can further be explored and optimized for scale-up studies to cater industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw-poly(n-butyl acrylate (BA)-sodium styrene sulfonate (SS)-neopentyl glycol diacrylate (NPGDA)) (raw-PBSN) films were prepared through a curing process from various BA/SS/NPGDA mixtures (BSN mixture). Sulfonation of the raw-PBSN films was performed via a pretreatment process. As a result, light-brown sulfonated PBSN (SPBSN) films with a thickness of 80 ~ 95 μm were obtained. The ion exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity (PC), swelling ratio (SR), and water uptake (WU) of these specimens were improved with an increase in the content of SS within the SPBSN matrix. The SPBSN 25 wt%, SPBSN 30 wt% and SPBSN 35 wt% films containing corresponding SS contents of 25 wt%, 30 wt% and 35 wt%, which are much higher IEC values compared to that of Nafion® 117. Specifically, the PC value of the SPBSN 35 wt% film was approximately 0.211 S/cm, nearly 22.6% higher than that of Nafion® 117 (0.172 S/cm) at a temperature of 80 °C and relative humidity (RH) of 100%. A fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was conducted to verify the sulfonation of the raw-PBSN films. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis served to investigate the hydrophilic domain images of the SPBSN films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kraft pulping process is the foremost common pretreatment method utilized in pulp and paper businesses to break down the lignocellulosic linkages to urge cellulose and lignin separated. Due to higher degree of recuperation of the reagents utilized within the process of pulp production having higher cellulosic virtue, this technique rules over others since many decades. A factorial experiment may have star points and centre points added, offering three or five levels for each component. This is known as a central composite design, and it is utilised in response surface modelling. There are a few components to be considered in kraft pulping method which are temperature, retention time, % alkalinity, % sulfidity, and liquor to biomass stacking. The use of Na2S stands for a source of HS−, but too for an extra source of NaOH agreeing to the response included in this prepare. In spite of the fact that we have not taken those two components into thought, they can moreover be utilized in future inquire about. Thus, here, we utilized central composite plan to optimize our components. By taking temperature extend of 140–175 °C, time 20–80 min, and % alkalinity 10–20%, we have gotten diverse reactions of greatest bright absorbance wavelength and concentration information of black liquors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrates are more likely to be found in lipid-extracted microalgal biomass, which can be used to produce bioethanol with different pretreatment methods. The objective of this study was to prepare lipid-extracted biomass of Scenedesmus sp. grown in anaerobically digested brewery effluent for bioethanol production. Pretreatments such as autoclave, microwave, oven, and water bath heating with alkalis (NaOH and KOH), acids (HCL and H2SO4), and H2O as hydrolytic agents, as well as optimization of an effective pretreatment method for carbohydrate and reducing sugar extractions, were used. Bioethanol was produced from lipid-extracted microalgal hydrolysate under optimum conditions. The findings showed that the highest contents of carbohydrates (222.59 ± 3.16 mg/g) and reducing sugar (150.52 ± 5.57 mg/g) were obtained using microwave pretreatment with HCl, whereas the lowest contents of carbohydrates (34.48 ± 1.36 mg/g) and reducing sugar (30.85 ± 3.22 mg/g) were obtained in water bath heating with H2O. After optimizing the main parameters of microwave pretreatment, the highest carbohydrate and reducing sugar contents were increased by 24.72% and 27.92%, respectively, at the optimum conditions. The maximum bioethanol yield of 0.1 g/g lipid-extracted microalgal biomass with a fermentation efficiency of 94.84% was obtained at a fermentation time of 24 h. This study demonstrated that lipid-extracted biomass of microalgae obtained from wastewater has a high potential for bioethanol production and, consequently, the development of microalgae-based biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the neglect of reactor features which can substantially influence results, there are divergences on whether the decompression step of steam explosion pretreatment affects biomass saccharification and subsequent bioethanol production. An original innovative reactor is presented, which adopts new-designed pilot-operated pneumatic (POP) mode to maximize the effect of decompression, to settle divergences. Based on the reactor, three series of experiments set at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MPa pressure with 0- and 10-min residence times were conducted with wheat straw as feedstock, compositional/structural adaptation, and enzymatic digestibility as targets. Results show that decompression alone improved the porosity of feedstock and led to a maximum increase of 17% in specific surface area (SSA). However, no decompression effects could be confirmed on chemical depolymerization and cellulose crystalline destruction, which were mainly attributed to the hydrothermal autohydrolysis and highly correlated with the severity factor (logR0). According to the enzymatic hydrolysis test, decompression promoted the reducing sugar yield of wheat straw by 6–11% due to the modification of porosity, but autohydrolysis still played the definitive role and an appropriate severity (logR0 = 3.36) is necessary to sufficiently exploit the function of decompression. This paper provides more integral information for further optimization of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To successfully convert lignocellulosic biomass into value-added products, it is necessary to overcome its structures' resistance to enzymatic digestion. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is an inevitable process loosening the carbohydrate-lignin network, thus improving the digestibility/enzymatic saccharification into second-generation sugars. Several pretreatment methods exist; however, steam explosion with or without catalyst, dilute acid hydrolysis, alkaline pretreatment, hydrothermal, and organosolv pretreatment have been studied in detail. Although several pretreatment techniques have been established, the feasibility of these techniques on a large scale remains a major bottleneck in the biorefinery. In this sense, emerging technologies such as supercritical fluids, ionic liquids, hydrodynamic cavitation, and nanobiotechnology have shown encouraging results in terms of process feasibility. This paper discusses the key pretreatment techniques, their advantages, and disadvantages. Additionally, the chemical and physical changes that occurred due to different pretreatments on the biomass at a molecular level are discussed and compared using Microsoft Power BI. Finally, the perspective of emerging technologies is explored, and future trends in biomass pretreatment are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the qualitative and quantitative profile is evaluated of the bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity (AA), microbiostatic properties, as well as the color parameters of jostaberry extracts, obtained from frozen (FJ), freeze-dried (FDJ), and oven-dried berries (DJ). The optimal extraction conditions by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were selected after determination of the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antocyanin content (TA), AA by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), and the free radical cation 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonates (ABTS). Non-conventional extraction methods are less destructive to anthocyanins, while drying the berries reduced TA, regardless of the extraction method. The oven-drying process reduced the concentration of TA in DJ extracts by 99.4% and of ascorbic acid by 92.42% compared to FJ. AA was influenced by the jostaberry pretreatment methods. The DPPH and ABTS tests recorded values (mg Trolox equivalent/g dry weight) between 17.60 and 35.26 and 35.64 and 109.17 for FJ extracts, between 7.50 and 7.96 and 45.73 and 82.22 for FDJ, as well as between 6.31 and 7.40 and 34.04 and 52.20 for DJ, respectively. The jostaberry pretreatment produced significant changes in all color parameters. Mutual information analysis, applied to determine the influence of ultrasound and microwave durations on TPC, TFC, TA, AA, pH, and color parameters in jostaberry extracts, showed the greatest influence on TA (0.367 bits) and TFC (0.329 bits). The DPPH and ABTS inhibition capacity of all FJ' extracts had higher values and varied more strongly, depending on pH, heat treatment, and storage time, compared to the AA values of FDJ' and DJ' extracts. A significant antimicrobial effect was observed on all bacterial strains studied for FJP. FDJP was more active on Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. DJP was more active on Salmonella Abony and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antifungal effect of DJP was stronger compared to FDJP. Jostaberry extracts obtained under different conditions can be used in food production, offering a wide spectrum of red hues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Micronanoelectronic Technology is the property of Micronanoelectronic Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) has been identified as a potential green solvent in biomass processing. In the present investigation, a deep eutectic solvent i.e. choline chloride: urea (ChCl/U) was synthesized and employed to pretreat rice husks. Plackett- Burman response surface methodology was used to optimize the factors which are DES molar ratio, residence time, temperature, and biomass concentration. A total of 11 experimental conditions were evaluated and the highest amount of reducing sugar was obtained when 2 g rice husk was pretreated with 1:2 ChCl/U at 80°C for 6 h i.e. 0.67 ± 0.05 mg/mL. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were used to characterize the structural and compositional changes in which DES demonstrates a great performance in the pretreatment of rice husk by eliminating amorphous lignin and hemicellulose content. Therefore, the facile process used in this study has the potential to be used on a massive scale to produce fermentable sugars and other compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global population has led to a surge in waste production across various fields including agriculture, industry, marine, and household, posing significant waste management challenges. Concurrently, the world is facing an energy crisis, emphasizing the crucial need for sustainable and renewable energy sources. This comprehensive review examines the potential of biomethane production from diverse waste biomass. Feedstock characteristics; anaerobic digestion (AD); biochemical pathways; factors influencing AD; various pretreatment methods such as physical, chemical, biological, and combined; existing policies supporting biomethane production; and potential new policy implications are discussed in this review along with the significance of waste‐to‐energy integration. Our findings indicate that lignocellulosic wastes, primarily agricultural waste, stand out as the most efficient biomass source for biomethane production due to their characteristics such as high carbon/nitrogen ratio, low ash content, and their abundant availability. Among pretreatment methods, combined pretreatment emerges as the most promising option, offering flexibility and effectiveness in enhancing biomethane production. Additionally, the two‐stage digester configuration proves advantageous in overcoming limitations associated with single‐stage digesters such as pH inhibition. Altogether, the review highlights that biomethane production from waste biomass through AD offers a sustainable solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Here, utilizing of microneedle roller as a physical enhancer of drug permeation through third-degree burn eschar has been investigated. This study was also conducted to investigate the effect of physicochemical properties of different drugs on permeation through perforated and unperforated eschar. Method: 1000 μm and 1500 μm height microneedle rollers were used to study the effect of microneedle pretreatment on permeation of diclofenac sodium, vancomycin hydrochloride, and sirolimus through human third-degree burn eschar. Optical microscopy and histological sectioning were used to visualize perforation and characterize the penetration depth, respectively. Franz-diffusion cells were utilized to study the permeation over 10 h. Results: There were visible pores in eschar after treatment for both microneedle heights. Despite different physicochemical properties of drug models, microneedle rollers enhanced the permeation percentage through eschar in the range of 1.4 to 3.7 times for 1000 μm and 3.3 to 5.53 times for 1500 μm microneedle. Diclofenac as a molecule with the lowest MW and moderate log P had the highest permeation percentage in unperforated and perforated conditions. In the control condition, despite the higher MW of vancomycin compared to sirolimus, a higher percentage of vancomycin (about 2.7 times) permeated through eschar, indicating the higher permeability of hydrophilic drug in unperforated eschar. This behavior was also observed after eschar treatment with both heights of microneedle rollers. Conclusion: Commercially available microneedle rollers enhance the drug permeation through eschar. Microneedle pretreatment has the potential to be used for burn management in situations where early eschar removal is not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane and hydrogen generated from waste and biomass are renewable resources, which may successfully replace traditional fossil fuels. This paper investigates the enhancement effect of lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment on dark fermentative hydrogen production from sugar beet pulp (SBP). The results showed that sugar beet pulp after pretreatment contained significant amounts of unfermented sugars (mainly glucose, arabinose, galactose, and raffinose), and, therefore, represented an attractive substrate for methane and hydrogen production. The greatest methane yield (495 dm3 CH4/kg VS) was achieved from sugar beet pulp after alkaline pretreatment. High methane production of up to 445 dm3 CH4/kg VS was also obtained using acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis as a preliminary treatment of the pulp. All the pretreatment methods also resulted in the enhancement of hydrogen yield with the highest value of 229 dm3 H2/kg VS achieved using acid hydrolysis compared with 17 dm3 H2/kg VS for raw material subjected to digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-recyclable fiber rejects from paper mills, particularly those from recycled linerboard mills, contain high levels of structural carbohydrates but are currently landfilled, causing financial and environmental burdens. The aim of this study was to develop efficient and sustainable bioprocess to upcycle these rejects into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable alternative to degradation-resistant petroleum-based plastics. To achieve high yields of PHB per unit biomass, the specific objective of the study was to investigate various approaches to enhance the hydrolysis yields of fiber rejects to maximize sugar recovery and evaluate the fermentation performance of these sugars using Escherichia coli LSBJ. The investigated approaches included size reduction, surfactant addition, and a chemical-free hydrothermal pretreatment process. A two-step hydrothermal pretreatment, involving a hot water pretreatment (150 °C and 15% solid loading for 10 min) followed by three cycles of disk refining, was found to be highly effective and resulted in an 83% cellulose conversion during hydrolysis. The hydrolysate obtained from pretreated biomass normally requires a detoxification step to enhance fermentation efficiency. However, the hydrolysate obtained from the pretreated biomass contained minimal to no inhibitory compounds, as indicated by the efficient sugar fermentation and high PHB yields, which were comparable to those from fermenting raw biomass hydrolysate. The structural and thermal properties of the extracted PHB were analyzed using various techniques and consistent with standard PHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review concentrates on cutting‐edge pretreatments for deep‐fat frying that are meant to lower energy costs and enhance product quality. Methods such as freezing, blanching, pulsed electric fields, superheated steam, and ultrasonication are investigated to improve flavor without increasing cooking time. The study focuses on techniques to reduce oil absorption, specifically using physicochemical changes and hydrocolloid coatings. When added before or after frying, functional ingredients such as proteins and non‐protein hydrocolloids take advantage of cooling‐phase effects and water replacement mechanisms to minimize oil absorption. Effective barrier agents that preserve the texture and moisture of fried foods like French fries include pectin, CMC, and xanthan gum. While the effectiveness of various hydrocolloids varies, carrageenan and gum Arabic are particularly effective. French fries treated with guar gum and sorbitol showed reductions in total oil between 30.6% and 50.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the initial moisture content affects physical changes that occur during frying, such as the development of porosity, which affects the absorption of oil. This thorough analysis provides insights into cutting‐edge methods for making fried foods with less oil while preserving sensory qualities. Future studies will be focused on developing novel physicochemical changes and hydrocolloid coatings that use functional ingredients such as proteins and non‐protein hydrocolloids to efficiently lower excessive oil absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the complex structure, difficult flotation and difficult leaching of low-grade mixed tungsten and molybdenum ore of a domestic company, the synergistic leaching of molybdenum and tungsten from molybdenum tungsten ore by hydrochloric acid pretreatment--pyrolusite + sulf uric acid was studied. The effects of various factors on the leaching rate of tungsten and molybdenum were investigated. The results show that under the conditions of hydrochloric acid concentration of 1.5 mol/L, liquid volume to solid mass ratio of 6.5/1 and atmospheric pressure, the tungsten and molybdenum ores are pretreated with hydrochloric acid. Under the optimal conditions of filter slag of 20 g, particle size of 200 mesh, pyrolusite dosage of 4 g, sulfuric acid of 8 mol/L, liquid volume to solid mass ratio of 5/1, temperature of 90 °C and leaching time of 3 h, the leaching rates of molybdenum and tungsten are 83% and 73%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Objectives: This study was performed for the purpose of assessing whether antiepileptic levetiracetam treatment produces a change in brain volumes in children with epilepsy. To that end, we compared the volumes of the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus, hip-pocampus, and thalamus) at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after treatment (months 18–24) in pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved a volumetric comparison of patients presenting to the Balikesir University Medical Faculty pediatric neurology clinic between 01.08.2019 and 01.11.2023 and diagnosed with epilepsy, and who underwent cranial MRI before and 18–24 months after treatment at the radiology department. The demographic and clinical characteristics (age, sex, family history of epilepsy, type of epilepsy, and EEG features (normal, abnormal, epileptiform)) of the patients included in the study were recorded. Results: The comparison of basal ganglia volumes at cranial MRI before and at months 18–24 of treatment revealed significant differences in the left caudate nucleus, right putamen, left putamen, left globus pallidus, right thalamus, left thalamus, and right hippocampal regions. Conclusions: In conclusion, differing findings are encountered at cranial imaging in patients with epilepsy, depending on the seizure frequency, activity, and the type of antiepileptic drugs used. This study compared basal ganglia volumes on cranial MRIs taken before and 18–24 months after treatment in pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam. A significant increase was observed in the volumes of basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, and thalamus) on the MRIs of pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production is feasible via anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic wastes, such as waste-activated sludge (WAS). However, due to its limited degradation, a pretreatment strategy is applied to WAS to enhance its bio-degradation and, thus, biogas yield. Alkaline (0.5%-9% g NaOH/gTS, 30 min), microwave (MW) (90°C-175°C), and hybrid (0.5% g NaOH/gTS +125°C) pretreatments were applied to WAS. The characterization of untreated and pretreated WAS revealed that with higher alkaline and MW pretreatment, the soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), carbohydrate, and protein increased; however, the readily biodegradable COD (rbCOD) rate was unlike the sCOD. The sCOD was 7%-18%, 8%-23%, and 37% for alkaline, MW, and hybrid pretreatments, respectively. Stronger alkaline and MW pretreatment induced higher turbidity, capillary suction time, and lower average particle size. AD of alkaline-, MW-, and hybrid-pretreated WAS produced 94% (0.5% NaOH), 125% (MW at 125°C), and 199% (0.5% NaOH and MW at 125°C) increased biogas, respectively, compared to the AD of untreated sludge. The AD data on the alkaline-, MW-, and hybrid-pretreated BMP assays fitted well with the modified Gompertz model with a coefficient of determination above 0.95. The PCA analysis showed that biogas production is closely correlated with pretreatment temperature, VFA production, rbCOD, sCOD, and soluble carbohydrates and protein. Microbial genome sequencing analysis showed an improvement in microbial abundance and diversity. Acetoclastic methanogen (Methanothrix) growth was improved by 37% (MW pretreatment). Abundances of Methanosarcina, using all three metabolic pathways for methanogenesis, were 17, 21, 11, and 48% in the control, alkaline-, MW-, and hybrid-pretreated digestate, respectively, corresponding to 186% improvement in hybrid pretreatment when compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The preparation of malic acid starch ester (MSE) is mostly carried out using a high temperature method, but there are problems such as high energy consumption, long preparation time, and uneven heating. Microwave technology can be used to overcome these limitations. The semi‐crystalline structure of starch granules hinders the modifier's access to the matrix, thus limiting the esterification reaction. Physical techniques can act on the interior of the starch to create a number of active sites, thereby facilitating the reaction of the starch with esterification reagents. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of starch pretreatment by microwave, heat‐moisture, and ultrasonic techniques on the degree of substitution (DS), structure, and physicochemical properties of MSE synthesized by the microwave method.The DS of MSE was increased after pretreatments. The modified starch obtained by different pretreatment methods did not show new characteristic peaks, while the MSE synthesized showed new absorption peaks near 1735 cm−1. The granular structure and morphology of the modified starch obtained by microwave and heat‐moisture pretreatment were gelatinized and aggregated, while some of the starch particles of the modified starch obtained by ultrasonic pretreatment appeared pore‐sized. The relative crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy of the MSE were reduced, but the crystallization pattern remained as A‐type.Overall, the results suggest that various pretreatment methods can enhance the DS of MSE by disrupting the structure of starch. The findings of this study provide theoretical support for improving the DS of esterified starch. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The preparation of wood‐plastic composites (WPCs) with high filling fibers and excellent physical properties remained a great challenge. This study used Camellia oleifera shell (COS, agroforestry product waste) as raw material, and prepared 60 wt% COS/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) WPCs using profile extrusion method through pretreating fibers including hot water, hot steam, alkali, acid, extraction, and fine fiber screening. After pretreatments, the relative contents of cellulose and lignin increased, the relative contents of hemicellulose and extract decreased significantly, and the length‐diameter ratio was improved. The flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength of hot water and steam heat treated composites reached 31.4, 17.1 MPa and 6.9 kJ/m2, 31.8, 16.8 MPa and 6.7 kJ/m2, respectively. Compared with untreated 28.8, 14.7 MPa and 5.5 kJ/m2, the advantages were more obvious. Alkali treatment and acid treatment improved the thermal stability and residue rate of the material. Extraction treatment and alkali treatment significantly reduced the processing torque force, which was conducive to processing, while acid treatment was the opposite. The highest water absorption and thickness expansion rate were 13.75% and 3.60% respectively at 7 days after alkali treatment, which were considerably higher than 5.60% and 0.78% without treatment, while other pretreatments improved the dimensional stability of the material. High filling Camellia oleifera shell waste/HDPE composites were prepared. Physical and chemical pretreatments improved interfacial adhesion of the composites. Heat treatments significantly improved mechanical performance of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells have great potential in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury of skin flaps. However, their defects and the decline of their role in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury of skin flaps restrict their wide application. OBJECTIVE: To review the strategies for improving the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury of skin flaps with mesenchymal stem cells, and provide a reference for its further theoretical research and clinical application. METHODS: Relevant documents included in CNKI, WanFang and PubMed were searched. The Chinese and English search terms were “mesenchymal stem cell, ischemia-reperfusion adjustment of skin flap, mesenchymal stem cells, stem cells, skin flap, ischemia-reperfusion injury, pretreatment, gene modification, biomaterial packaging, joint application”. The relevant documents since 2007 were retrieved, and the documents with little relationship between the research content and the article theme, poor quality and outdated content were eliminated through reading the article, and finally 75 documents were included for summary. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit inflammatory reactions, resist oxidative stress and induce angiogenesis, which has great potential in the treatment of skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury. (2) Although mesenchymal stem cells have shown great potential in the treatment of skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury, their shortcomings in treatment have limited their widespread clinical application. Through pre-treatment (cytokines, hypoxia, drugs, and other pre-treatment mesenchymal stem cells), gene-modified mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterial encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells, as well as the combined use of mesenchymal stem cells and other drugs or therapeutic methods, can not only overcome the shortcomings of mesenchymal stem cells in treatment, but also improve their therapeutic effectiveness in skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury. (3) Therefore, further improving the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells in treating skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury and exploring its therapeutic potential are of great significance for the research of mesenchymal stem cells and the treatment of skin flap ischemia-reperfusion injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass represents an excellent alternative to fossil fuels in terms of both energy production and raw material usage for a plethora of daily-use products. Organosolv pretreatment is a fractionation technique able to separate lignocellulosic biomass into individual streams of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin under controlled conditions. Sawdust, the by-product of sawmill processing of Picea abies wood, was the subject of our investigation in this work. The aim was to evaluate the effects of different parameters of the organosolv process of spruce sawdust on the yield of components and how this affects the enzymatic saccharification of cellulose. Sixteen distinct pretreatments were performed with ethanol concentrations of 50 and 60% v/v at 180 and 200 °C for 15 and 30 min. Half of the pretreatments contained 1% sulfuric acid as a catalyst, while the other half were acid-free. Thereafter, the effects of different variables on the yield of products were assessed and compared to determine the ideal pretreatment condition. The results showed that cellulose-rich pulps, with cellulose content as high as 55% were generated from an initial mass of 37.7% spruce sawdust with the reactor operating at 180 °C for 30 min using 60% ethanol and 1% sulfuric acid. With the pretreatments performed with the catalyst at 200 °C, hemicellulose was almost entirely removed from the pulps obtained. The recovered hemicellulose fraction was composed mainly of monomers achieving up to 10 g/100 g of biomass. Delignification values of up to 65.7% were achieved with this pretreatment technique. Fractionated lignin presented low levels of sugar and ashes contamination, with values as low as 1.29% w/w. Enzymatic saccharification of the pretreated pulps yielded 78% cellulose hydrolysis, with glucose release higher than 0.54 g/g of biomass, indicating the potential of the pulps to be applied in a fermentation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excellent physical and chemical properties of deep eutectic solvents, especially the ability of some of them to dissolve biomass, make them broadly applicable in biomass pretreatment. In this study, oat straw was pretreated with deep eutectic solvents composed of choline chloride and an acid (formic, lactic, or oxalic acid). The highest reducing sugar yield was obtained for the formic acid/choline chloride mixture. Using a pretreatment temperature of 110 °C, a reaction time of 2 h, and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20, the reducing sugar yield obtained by cellulase hydrolysis was 23.5%, the degradation rate of cellulose reached 76.9%, and hemicellulose was completely degraded. The pretreated oat straw was then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The changes in its crystallinity and lignin content compared to the untreated specimen were determined. A preliminary mechanism for the pretreatment of oat straw with formic acid/choline chloride was revealed. The study could provide an opportunity to expand the application in biochemicals or biological feed processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the pretreatment and characterization of natural fibers from the bamboo shoot shell (BSS) of Phyllostachys heterocycla to determine their suitability as biorefining materials. The discarded bamboo shoot shell was used as a source of fibers, which were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and microstructure properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectra, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that a mixture of sodium hydroxide immersion plus high-pressure steam treatment allowed the cellulose structure to be disrupted, providing more adsorption sites for cellulases. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) also showed that the pretreatment exposed the internal structure of the fibers and that highmass silicon compounds were present in the eluted solution. After adding the cellulase produced by Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger, the reducing sugar yield was increased by 268% and 251%, compared to unpretreated BSS fibers. This strategy may apply to many industries, especially biorefining and lignocellulose biotransformation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass such as Miscanthus grown on marginal agricultural land is very challenging and requires severe conditions to fractionate cell wall polymers for further valorization. The current study aimed to determine organic acid-based mild conditions to pretreat contrasting lignocellulosic Miscanthus genotypes for the efficient fractionation of cell wall components, with special focus on hemicellulose extraction. In doing so, five Miscanthus genotypes were subjected to four different acid treatments (sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, and citric acid) in a vertical high-pressure steam sterilizer. The results demonstrated that, among the organic acids, oxalic acid was identified as the most effective pretreatment solvent for hemicellulose separation, whereas citric acid yielded the highest amount of galacturonic acid, varying from 15 to 17 mg mL−1 across genotypes. One best performing genotype was selected for the enzymatic hydrolysis. Overall, M. floridulus genotypes exhibited the optimal quality traits for efficient bioconversion with second best in terms of ethanol production potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of used lithium-ion batteries has become a growing concern. As a large number of rare metal elements are present in waste lithium-ion batteries, recycling them can significantly improve resource utilization and reduce the material cost of battery production. The process of recycling used lithium-ion batteries involves three main technology parts: pretreatment, material recovery, and cathode material recycling. Pretreatment includes discharge treatment, uniform crushing, and removing impurities. Material-recovery technology mainly involves traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies, as well as the developing biometallurgy technology. Analysis of existing data shows that pretreatment technology is crucial for the recycling of used lithium-ion batteries. Hydrometallurgical technology and pyro-hydrometallurgical technology are expected to be the most suitable industrialization technology paths in the future, with biometallurgical technology and direct recycling technology providing a low-pollution development direction. This article summarizes the different pretreatment techniques and valuable metal-recovery pathways. The advantages and disadvantages of each method were evaluated. The economic costs, environmental benefits, and degree of industrialization of each method were assessed. The possible development directions of various methods are summarized to provide reference for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing population and industrialization have increased the day-to-day demand for energy. Global warming and other climatic disasters caused by to burning of conventional fossil fuels have laid the need for an alternative and renewable fuel. Concurrently, the worldwide demand and production of bio-ethanol, a bio-based sustainable fuel, is increasing continuously. Fungal saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass takes place simultaneously with the secretion of various metabolites, which function as a catalytic system to liberate soluble sugars from insoluble composite biomass. Cellulase holds a major role in converting lignocellulosic feedstock into fermentable sugar. Fungi, especially filamentous fungi, preferably the Aspergillus species, are known to produce cellulase. Amongst the lignocellulosic biomass, rice straw is considered as one of the most attractive materials for producing bioethanol because of its high cellulosic and hemicellulosic content, which can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars. However, the recalcitrant nature of the substrate imposes considerable challenges and limitations to bioethanol production. To combat these challenges, various pretreatment techniques such as chemical, physical and physico-chemical processes are known to be effective enough to enhance the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification in order to make the complete process economically feasible. The present work deals with the isolation and selection of hypercellulase-producing fungal species. These species were used along with the pretreatment techniques either alone or in combination for efficient hydrolysis of rice straw to obtain the maximum amount of the released sugar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on fractionation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) using a new electro-based membrane process calledelectrodialysis with filtration membranes (EDFM). Before EDFM, different pretreatments were tested, and four pH conditions (4.25, 3.85, 3.45, and 3.05) were used during EDFM. It was demonstrated that a 1:1 dilution of defatted colostrum with deionized water to decrease mineral content followed by the preconcentration of GFs by UF is necessary and allow for these compounds to migrate to the recovery compartment during EDFM. MS analyses confirmed the migration, in low quantity, of only α-lactalbumin (α-la) and β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) from serocolostrum to the recovery compartment during EDFM. Consequently, the ratio of GFs to total protein in recovery compartment compared to that of feed serocolostrum solution was 60× higher at pH value 3.05, the optimal pH favoring the migration of IGF-I and TGF-β2. Finally, these optimal conditions were tested on acid whey to also demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed process on one of the main by-products of the cheese industry; the ratio of GFs to total protein was 2.7× higher in recovery compartment than in feed acid whey solution, and only α-la migrated. The technology of GF enrichment for different dairy solutions by combining ultrafiltration and electrodialysis technologies was proposed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the research potential in utilizing biochars as adsorbents in adsorption processes has grown due to their eco‐friendly and economical nature. However, biochar often possesses a negative surface charge that limits its affinity for binding anions. Nitric acid washing and pretreatment with Coriolus versicolor can break down the lignocellulosic structure in cotton stalk waste, facilitating the subsequent impregnation of Mg and Fe metal oxides. These pretreatment steps can lead to the production of diverse and functionalized biochars with higher adsorption capacities. In this study, cotton stalk waste was first washed with diluted nitric acid and then subjected to biological pretreatment by incubation with C. versicolor, followed by impregnation with Mg and Fe to obtain CV‐CS/Fe and CV‐CS/Mg biochars. The results showed that the applied pretreatments altered the physicochemical properties and significantly increased the phosphorus adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacities of CV‐CS/Fe and CV‐CS/Mg biochars were found to be 277.88 and 507.01 mg g−1, respectively. The results indicate that the incorporation of multiple metal oxide impregnates enhances P adsorption. Furthermore, in the kinetic study, pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models provided a well fit, determining chemical adsorption as the main adsorption mechanism for phosphorus adsorption. The biochars demonstrated compatibility with Langmuir–Freundlich models. Overall, the findings suggest the possibility of synthesizing biochars with improved adsorptive properties through pretreatment, and these engineered biochars hold promising potential as effective adsorbents in the field. Practitioner Points: Eco‐friendly, natural, and economical biochar was synthesized.Biochar was produced via Coriolus versicolor pretreatment.High adsorption capacities of CV‐PS/Mg biochars were found to be 507.01 mg g−1.Adsorption capacities of biochars can be improved by pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global demand for meat production, driven by a rapidly expanding population and changing dietary preferences has prompted the search for protein-rich, sustainable, and healthier meat alternatives. In this context, edible mushrooms are viewed as advantageous substitutes for meat, offering a viable solution. This study aimed to investigate the effects of partially replacing (25% and 50%) pork meat in sausage samples with fermented oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), which were subjected to various pretreatments. Six different pretreatments were applied to fresh oyster mushrooms as follows: blanching in water, steaming, oven-cooking, microwave treatment, high hydrostatic pressure treatment, and ultraviolet light treatment. The effects of mushroom replacement on the moisture, pH, lipid oxidation, color, and textural properties of sausages during the 4-week refrigerated storage period were evaluated. The results revealed that replacing pork meat with fermented oyster mushrooms resulted in an increase in moisture content and b* values and a decrease in pH, L*, a*, and shear force values, proportional to the mushroom percentage. The lipid oxidation findings suggest that the antioxidant capabilities of fermented oyster mushrooms were influenced by the pretreatment methods applied to the mushrooms, exhibiting varying levels of effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]