Facile synthesis of carbon self-doped g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) is an appealing metal-free photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution, but the potential has been limited by its poor visible-light absorption and unsatisfactory separation of photo-induced carriers. Herein, a facile one-pot strategy to fabricate carbon self-doped g-C₃N₄ composite through the calcination of dicyanamide and trace amounts of dimethylformamide is presented. The as-obtained carbon self-doped catalyst is investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming the substitution of carbon atoms in original sites of bridging nitrogen. We demonstrate that the as-prepared materials display remarkably improved visible-light absorption and optimized electronic structure under the premise of principally maintaining the tri-s-triazine based crystal framework and surface properties. Furthermore, the carbon doped g-C₃N₄ composite simultaneously weakens the transportation barrier of charge carriers, suppresses charge recombination and raises the separated efficiency of photoinduced holes and electrons on account of the extension of pi conjugated system. As a result, carbon self-doped g-C₃N₄ exhibits 4.3 times greater photocurrent density and 5.2 times higher hydrogen evolution rate compared with its bulk counterpart under visible light irradiation.     

Synthesis of Cellulose-Based Macromolecular Coupling Agent and its Utilization in Poly (butylene succinate)/Wood Flour Composites

A long fatty side chain was introduced into the macromolecule of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) via esterification reaction. The hydrophobicity of hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester (HECLAE) was enhanced in comparison with HEC. The obtained HECLAE was used as macromolecular coupling agent in poly (butylene succinate)/wood flour composites and exhibited a positive influence on improving the mechanical performance of composites. Besides, HECLAE plays a role as a hydrophobic agent in composites. A significant increase in storage modulus (E’) was observed upon the incorporation of treated wood flour. SEM images showed that the dispersion of treated wood flour in PBS matrix was improved.     

杨木乙醇木素羟甲基化改性反应的研究

用甲醛对杨木乙醇木素进行羟甲基化改性并对其反应机理和反应条件进行了研究。通过测定改性后产物的羟甲基含量值,确定了杨木乙醇木素羟甲基化改性的最优条件:甲醛用量7.37 mmol.g-1(对木素),pH值10.0,反应温度65℃,反应时间90 min。在该条件下对杨木乙醇木素进行羟甲基化改性,测得改性后木素的羟甲基质量分数可达到12.84%。     

Mild synthesis of benzylated bamboo in LiCl/DMSO solution

Benzylated bamboo was mildly synthesized in nonaqueous medium without mercerization pretreatment. The ball-milled bamboo was firstly preswelled in lithium chloride/dimethyl sulfoxide (LiCl/DMSO) solution and then reacted with benzyl chloride in the presence of solid NaOH with varying molar ratios of benzyl chloride to OH groups of bamboo (1–4), reaction times (1–8 h), and temperatures (60–90°C). Benzylated bamboo products with yields from 51.1 to 106.9% and with degrees of substitution [DS, apparent value evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra] between 0.2 and 1.2 were synthesized. FTIR and ¹³C cross polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of benzyl groups into bamboo; SEM observations of the highly benzylated bamboo showed porous surface with small irregular slices ascribed to the disruption of intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds between cellulose. Because of the degradation of amorphous components, the crystallinity decreased negligibly after modification and the thermal stability increased slightly but was lower than that of cellulose. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Quercetagetin loaded in soy protein isolate–κ-carrageenan complex: Fabrication mechanism and protective effect

In the present study, the potential of soy protein isolate (SPI)–κ-carrageenan (κ-CG) complex as a protective carrier for quercetagetin was investigated at different pH values (pH 2.3 and 6.5). The particle size of the ternary aggregates was slightly increased at pH 2.3, yet dramatically decreased at pH 6.5 with increasing quercetagetin concentration. Moreover, the negative ζ-potential of the ternary aggregates was increased significantly (p < 0.05) at pH 6.5. The addition of quercetagetin to the SPI–κ-CG complex could highly quench the intrinsic fluorescence of SPI. Circular dichroism spectra further suggested that the bound quercetagetin could induce the rise of β-sheet and β-turn contents at the cost of α-helix and unordered coil fractions of SPI. In addition, quercetagetin could increase the viscoelasticity of the ternary aggregates at both pH. Furthermore, the SPI–κ-CG complex was found to be superior to single SPI or κ-CG in terms of improving light stability and radical scavenging ability of quercetagetin.     

角质酶/表面活性剂体系对混合办公废纸的协同脱墨作用

角质酶能够水解可溶性酯、不溶性甘油三酯和各种聚酯，因此可以水解油墨中的连接料，有代替脂肪酶应用于废纸脱墨领域的潜能。利用角质酶和实验室复配得到的表面活性剂协同应用于混合办公废纸脱墨领域，探讨其脱墨效果和最优工艺，并与常用商业脂肪酶进行脱墨效果比较。结果表明，角质酶在酶用量10 U·g^-1，酶处理时间30 min，酶处理温度50℃，表面活性剂用量0.2%的条件下可以达到最优效果。与脂肪酶/表面活性剂以及单独用表面活性剂脱墨相比，角质酶脱墨后纸页的白度与油墨去除率更高，纸页的机械强度也较好。通过纸页性能的对比和扫描电镜（SEM）观察，角质酶的脱墨效果较脂肪酶更佳，角质酶/表面活性剂体系对混合办公废纸脱墨效果较好。     

Effects of pepsin hydrolysis on the soy β‐conglycinin aggregates formed by heat treatment at different pH

The effects of pepsin hydrolysis on the β‐conglycinin aggregates formed by heat treatment at different pH were investigated. Results showed that fibrils were still observed, whereas the random aggregates were easily to be digested in the simulated gastric fluid. Electrophoresis and molecular weight analysis indicated that large aggregates still existed after pepsin treatment for fibrils. Hydrolysis resulted in changes in the apparent viscosity (ηapp) of 6% fibril solutions. The ηapp at the shear rate range (0–30 s^?1) increased in the order of fibrils < fibrils with pepsin for 60 min < fibrils with pepsin for 30 min. Smaller peptide/fibril fragments were generated, and additional aggregates were reformed during the hydrolysis process, as evidenced by thioflavin T and atomic force microscopy images. The native β‐conglycinin hydrolysates comprised a mixture of polypeptides enriched in about 47 kDa. These findings would provide valuable information about effects of enzymatic hydrolysis on plant oligometric globulin aggregates.     

Characteristics and Rheological Properties of Polysaccharide Nanoparticles from Edible Mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes)

Nanotechnology has become relevant in the food‐related industries, and edible mushrooms can be a potential raw material for providing satisfied edible nanomaterial. In this study, by following 3 different pretreatments (hot water or cold alkali or hot alkali) insoluble polysaccharide nanoparticles were prepared from Flammulina velutipes by wet milling and high pressure homogenization and their properties were investigated. The resultant nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, GC‐MS (for its main compositions), FTIR, XRD, and TG. The 1 wt% nanoparticle dispersions presented non‐Newtonian, shear‐thinning fluids with the viscosity in an increasing order for the hot water < cold alkali < hot alkali. Moreover, the dynamical rheological results showed differences of storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of these particle dispersions. It was concluded that the Flammulina velutipes‐derived polysaccharides nanoparticles have great potential applications in the food industry, for example, as emulsifiers, reinforcement agents, and bioactive carriers.     

Efficient enzymatic synthesis of ampicillin using mutant Penicillin G acylase with bio-based solvent glycerol

To fulfill the industry demand of ampicillin enzymatic synthesis, immobilized mutant Penicillin G acylase and bio-based solvent glycerol were employed at high substrate concentration and low acyl donor/nucleophile ratio. After process optimization, good yield and low operation costs were achieved.