Soluble dietary fibres from sugarcane bagasse

Soluble dietary fibres from sugarcane bagasse were extracted under alkaline conditions and characterised. Precipitated fibres were dialysed, and the fibre composition was evaluated before and after the dialysis step. Compositional analysis indicated that the fibres both before and after dialysis consisted of 39% w/w total sugars, 16% w/w protein, 10% w/w Klason lignin and 30% w/w ash. Xylose was the main neutral sugar followed by arabinose with glucose, galactose and uronic acids also present in all samples. The structural properties were also spectroscopically examined, which confirmed the presence of arabinoxylans. Macromolecular characterisation revealed that molecular weight is reduced after dialysis, indicating that a range of dietary fibres with different macromolecular characteristics may be obtained depending on the specific processing steps. The present work shows that soluble arabinoxylans may be obtained from sugarcane agricultural wastes that may be used as a source of novel dietary fibres.     

半纤维素包装薄膜材料的研究进展

目的 综述了近几年来有关半纤维素改性、材料制备及其应用方面的研究,以期为半纤维素基薄膜材料的进一步开发与应用提供参考。方法 通过收集与整理相关文献,阐述半纤维素的结构特点和分离提取方法,综述近些年来关于半纤维素包装薄膜材料的研究进展,并对比分析物理改性与化学改性2种改性方法对半纤维素薄膜材料包括阻隔性能、力学性能等的调控。结论 对半纤维素进行物理或者化学改性,在保留原有优势性能的同时赋予半纤维素薄膜材料更好的机械强度、柔韧性、热稳定性以及疏水性等性能,符合半纤维素高值化利用新趋势。     

Developmental and Ripening-Related Effects on the Cell Wall of Pepino (Solanum muricatum) Fruit

Several cell wall components in ripening pepino fruit have been quantitatively and qualitatively characterised, with the aim of identifying their contributions to the loss of tissue firmness. Pepinos were graded into nine groups based on progressive, characteristic skin colour changes, previously shown to correspond with decreasing fruit firmness. While fruit softening began when the pepinos were still green but with newly acquired purple stripes, the first significant quantitative signs of cell wall modification (total pectin and hemicellulose content declining and CDTA-soluble pectin content increasing, on a fresh weight basis) were detectable later in ripening, when the fruit began to acquire yellow skin pigmentation. Gel fractionation studies demonstrated that there were increased levels of low-molecular-weight pectin and xyloglucan during pepino ripening. The change in molecular weight distribution of CDTA-soluble pectin occurred as fruit started to acquire yellow pigmentation, while xyloglucan polymers were modified at an earlier stage that coincided with the initial loss of firmness. © 1997 SCI.     

Analysis of Flax Fiber Cell-Wall Non-Cellulosic Polysaccharides Under Different Weather Conditions (Marylin Variety)

The cell-wall composition has been analyzed for 13 batches of flax fibers grown over 3 years under 3 different weather conditions including a ‘normal one, a harsh drought and a rainy weather. It was found that both stresses, drought and excess of rain induced a decrease of uronic acid in the matrix and an increase of the structuring pectins. Besides, a drought led to an increase of hemicellulose polysaccharides (+24%) whereas an excess of rainfall caused a rise in the amount of so-called structuring pectins (+67%). As the fiber’s mechanical properties remained the same over the years, it was assumed that the cell-wall composition was modified to preserve the mechanical role of the fiber in the stem.     

Reaction Characteristics of Polysaccharide-Iodine Complexes: A Mini-review

The potential reactions between natural polysaccharides and iodine and their products have been explored for a long time. Due to the complex factors that can influence these reactions, a clear-cut mechanism has not yet been developed. Starch-iodine complexes, especially the amylose-iodine complex, are the most investigated of the polysaccharide-iodine reactions, and the study of this reaction can be used as a basis for the investigation of other polysaccharide-iodine reactions. In this paper, significant aspects of the reaction were introduced, including the influence of the polysaccharide structure on the properties of the resulting complexes, the relationship between the concentration of CaCl_2 and formation of the final products, as well as the form of the polyiodides in these complexes. The interior structure and the surface morphology of the complexes were discussed, along with the progress in research related to this reaction.     

Structure and properties of sugar beet fibres

Fibrous fractions were prepared from sugar beet pulp (RF) by sequential extractions with potassium oxalate, 0.05 M hydrochloric acid at 85°C and 0.05 m sodium hydroxide at 4°C. The overall composition, polysaccharide structure and some physico-chemical properties (cation exchange capacity, CEC; water holding capacity, WHC; swelling) of each fraction were determined. RF was mostly composed of carbohydrates (66.3 %) with minor amounts of ash, proteins and lignin. The main polysaccharides were highly methylated and acetylated pectins, cellulose and arabinans. The oxalate residue (82.1 % of RF) exhibited only minute differences from RF whereas the acidic and alkaline residues, accounting for 42.8 % and 35.5 % of RF, respectively, were enriched in cellulose and hemicelluloses (xylans, xyloglucans, mannans) and mostly devoid of pectins and arabinans. CEC and WHC of fractions were closely related to the content of unmethylated galacturonic acid residues. The influence of the ionic form of ionisable groups was demonstrated, the Na⁺ form giving the highest WHC. The ionic strength of the medium can reduce the WHC, especially in the case of the acid and alkali-extracted fibres.     

Design of a continuous process for the alkaline treatment of xylose into lactic acid

A compact process based on a gas/liquid contactor was designed for the continuous alkaline oxidation of xylose into lactic acid. An experimental design using Doehlert's method was used to study the effect of: i) the NaOH concentration, ii) the xylose concentration, iii) the reaction temperature, and iv) the residence time, on the yield of lactic acid. Results indicate that the conversion of xylose at concentrations between 5-15% (w/w) is complete and nearly instantaneous at both high temperatures (over 200°C) and high sodium hydroxide concentrations ((> 10% w/w). Yields of lactic acid reaching 50% (with a theoretical yield of 60% (w/w)) were obtained under the most favorable experimental condition suggested by the model developed.     

Solid acid catalyzed synthesis of furans from carbohydrates

The alternative feedstock, biomass (particularly lignocelluloses), having the profuse availability, is promising for the synthesis of several value-added chemicals which are currently obtained from fossil feedstock. In this article, the synthesis of two extremely significant furan chemicals viz. furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are discussed. In the synthesis of furans from biomass, numerous challenges, i.e., use of edible sugars as substrates, selectivity to furans, their isolation in pure form, reuse of catalyst, environmental issues, etc., are perceived and in the recent past researchers tried to resolve those by developing advance methodologies. This article comprehensively summarizes the latest progress made in the above-mentioned areas and also provides commentary on the analyses of results, rationale for observed activity and mechanisms, etc. It also discusses future aspects of this work.     

Succinoylation of wheat straw hemicelluloses in N,N‐dimethylformamide/lithium chloride systems

The chemical modification of native wheat straw hemicelluloses with succinic anhydride using N,N‐dimethylformamide/lithium chloride system as solvent and pyridine and/or 4‐dimethyaminopyridine as catalyst has been examined. In particular, the progress of the succinoylation reaction is studied as a function of the molar ratio of succinic anhydride/anhydroxylose unit in native hemicelluloses from 1:1 to 5:1, DMAP concentration 0.025–0.20 g, reaction temperature 40–140 °C, and reaction time 2–12 h with succinic anhydride. The degree of substitution of succinylated hemicelluloses ranges between 0.4 and 1.5 depending on the experimental conditions. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic characterization of the esterified polymers indicates a monoester substitution. The thermal stability of the esterified polymer decreases slightly upon chemical modification, but no significant further decrease in thermal stability is observed for DS ≥ 0.7. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry