Interactions of mixing and reaction kinetics of depolymerization of cellulose to renewable fuels

As the biofuel industry is heavily depend on technological advancement to remain competent, creation of new process techniques becomes inevitable to replace the existing under-performed operations. Mixing in the reactor requires enormous amount of energy to achieve required homogeneity. Reduction in the energy consumption and ultimately the cost of the product is possible by devising smart mixing strategies. In this review, interactions of mixing and reaction kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and cellulosic depolymerization in ionic solvents are discussed. When the processes are operated under various mixing conditions, changes in the reaction kinetics and dynamics of the processes occur. Therefore, analyzing the mixing effects at various levels (micro to macro) is crucial to decide best operating mixing conditions that drive the reaction kinetics toward the increased product yield. The review is helpful to identify a suitable mixing strategy that maximizes the production of biofuels—ethanol, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, etc.     

Prebiotic Pathway from Ribose to RNA Formation

At the focus of abiotic chemical reactions is the synthesis of ribose. No satisfactory explanation was provided as to the missing link between the prebiotic synthesis of ribose and prebiotic RNA (preRNA). Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is assumed to have been the principal precursor in the prebiotic formation of aldopentoses in the formose reaction and in the synthesis of ribose. Ribose as the best fitting aldopentose became the exclusive sugar component of RNA. The elevated yield of ribose synthesis at higher temperatures and its protection from decomposition could have driven the polymerization of the ribose-phosphate backbone and the coupling of nucleobases to the backbone. RNA could have come into being without the involvement of nucleotide precursors. The first nucleoside monophosphate is likely to have appeared upon the hydrolysis of preRNA contributed by the presence of reactive 2′-OH moieties in the preRNA chain. As a result of phosphorylation, nucleoside monophosphates became nucleoside triphosphates, substrates for the selective synthesis of genRNA.     

Nutritional and functional characterisation of hydrolysates from quinoa flour (Chenopodium quinoa) using two proteases

The objective was to study the nutritional and functional properties of hydrolysates from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of defatted quinoa flour (DQF). The commercial enzymes alcalase and flavourzyme were used to obtain the hydrolysates defatted quinoa flour hydrolysate with alcalase (DQFA) and defatted quinoa flour hydrolysate with flavourzyme (DQFF), respectively, after 3 h of digestion at 50°C and pH 8. The degree of hydrolysis (47.32%), yield (31.05%) and protein recovery (88.80%) values were higher in DQFA; however, its protein content (48.34%) was lower compared to that of DQFF (55.06%). Also, DQFA had a solubility greater than 57% over a wide pH range (2–10) and good foam stability (70–90%). On the other hand, DQFF presented adequate emulsifying activity (61.30 m²/g), emulsifying stability (158.62 min) and foaming capacity (131%). Due to the high content of macro- and micronutrients and adequate emulsifying and foaming properties, DQFA and DQFF could be used as ingredients in various processed food products and protein supplements.     

Innovative hydrogen release from sodium borohydride hydrolysis using biocatalyst-like Fe2O3 nanoparticles impregnated on Bacillus simplex bacteria

For the first time in this innovative study, microorganisms such as Bacillus simplex bacteria, mostly used in biological activity studies, are used as a bio-supporter agent of iron to release hydrogen from sodium borohydride hydrolysis at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. The goal is to investigate thoroughly sodium borohydride hydrolysis catalyzed by Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles impregnated on microorganism such as Bacillus simplex (BS) bacteria (Fe₂O₃@BS NPs) known with strong antibacterial properties, which makes innovative them a candidate for hydrolysis reaction. This study was focused on the preparation, identification, and catalytic use of biocatalyst-like Fe₂O₃@BS NPs for hydrogen release from the sodium borohydride hydrolysis at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C. The characterization results made after and before hydrolysis reaction using by SEM/SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XRD, UV–vis, XPS, DLS, ELS Zeta potential, ESR, and TEM techniques reveal the formation of highly active, stable, durable, and long-lived biocatalysts-like Fe₂O₃@BS NPs.     

In situ monitoring of the biocatalysed partial hydrolysis of cocoa butter and palm oil fraction

Partial glycerides are widely used ingredients in confectionery products that can be produced from natural fats. In a biocatalytic partial hydrolysis of cocoa butter and palm oil fractions, a product mixture containing 1.5% monoglycerides and 5.5% diglycerides intended for the use in confectionery products was created. This study is a proof of principle that shows the feasibility of monitoring the biocatalytic partial hydrolysis of these two natural fats in situ with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. An economic approach was utilised for calibration since partial glyceride calibration standards are costly and poorly available. The released compounds were quantified by means of chemometric modelling, and the model was validated with gas chromatography. Resulting root mean square errors were in the low per cent range. Additionally, the results indicate that distinction of the released free fatty acids is possible with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.     

Optimization of selective acidolysis pretreatment for the valorization of wheat straw by a combined chemical and enzymatic process

The cover image is based on the Original Article Optimization of selective acidolysis pretreatment for the valorization of wheat straw by a combined chemical and enzymatic process by Yong Xu, Jianming Guo, Shizhong Zhang et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.6251 .

     

β-glucosidase supplementation during biomass hydrolysis: How low can we go?

Corn stover was pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid to test the interaction effects of pH, cellulase loading and β-glucosidase loadings on biomass hydrolysis rates. A response surface model was developed showing that β-glucosidase supplementation had limited practical impact on hydrolysis between 0.5 and 2 CBU FPU⁻¹. The only significant interaction in the model was between pH and β-glucosidase loading but it also had little practical significance. Corn stover and corn cob were used to test the effects of further β-glucosidase reduction. Significant hydrolysis improvements were seen when 0.2 CBU FPU⁻¹ were added but very little improvement was seen for higher loadings. Residual cellobiose concentrations confirmed these findings but suggest that further reductions would have more noticeable negative effects on hydrolysis rates. Results show that β-glucosidase supplementation during biomass hydrolysis can be reduced to between 10% and 20% of typical loadings.     

叔丁基头孢克肟侧链酸的合成

以去甲氨噻肟酸乙酯为起始原料,在相转移催化剂聚乙烯醇400存在下"一锅法"完成水解、醚化反应,精制后得到目标化合物,确定了较优的反应条件,总收率72.8%,纯度98.7%。目标产物的结构均经1HNMR表征。该合成路线原料易得,成本低,操作简单。