A5068966650- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Biochemical and biochemical processes
- Enzyme-mediated dye degradation
- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Fermentation and Sensory Analysis
- Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Plant Gene Expression Analysis
- Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
- Material Properties and Processing
- Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Free Radicals and Antioxidants
- Oxidative Organic Chemistry Reactions
- Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Dyeing and Modifying Textile Fibers
- NMR spectroscopy and applications
- Polymer composites and self-healing
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Forest ecology and management
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
Southern Research Station
2015-2024
United States Department of Agriculture
2014-2022
US Forest Service
2007-2022
Auburn University
1999-2021
Southern Research Institute
2016-2020
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
2010
Georgia Institute of Technology
1999-2007
Lenzing (Austria)
2002
Rice University
1998
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
1995
Deconstruction of lignocellulosic plant cell walls to fermentable sugars by thermochemical and/or biological means is impeded several poorly understood ultrastructural and chemical barriers. A promising pretreatment called ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) overcomes the native recalcitrance through subtle morphological physicochemical changes that enhance cellulase accessibility without extracting lignin hemicelluloses into separate liquid streams. Multi-scale visualization characterization Zea...
Concentrated solid dicarboxylic acid hydrolysis for producing highly thermal-stable and carboxylated cellulose nanomaterials with complete recovery.
Pretreatment is an essential step in the enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass and subsequent production bioethanol. Recent results indicate that only a mild pretreatment necessary industrial, economically feasible system. The Integrated Biomass Utilisation System hydrothermal process has previously been shown to be effective preparing wheat straw for these processes without application additional chemicals. In current work, effect on cell-wall matrix its components are characterised...
Lignin is conventionally defined as being formed by the oxidative polymerization of three main monolignols, p-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl and sinapyl that are derived from general phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. Many other phenolic compounds also pathway known to perform genuine lignin monomers in many plants, case monolignol ester conjugates, arising truncated biosynthesis or ferulate esters. Recent investigations, however, have indicated beyond canonical pathway, namely flavonoids,...
A group of biomass-derived lignins isolated using organosolv fractionation was characterized by FT-IR spectral and thermal property analysis coupled with multivariate analysis. The principal component indicated that there were significant variations between the hardwood, softwood, grass due to differences in syringyl guaiacyl units as well different processing temperatures times used isolate lignins. Partial least squares regression revealed concentration foremost factor behind variation...
Lignin typically inhibits enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass, but certain organosolv lignins or lignosulfonates enhance hydrolysis. The hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between lignin cellulases play critical roles in the process. However, how to incorporate these two into consideration effects has not been investigated. We examined physicochemical properties structures ethanol (EOL) from hardwood softwood ascertained association their inhibitory stimulatory on zeta...
There is need for well-defined lignin macromolecules research related to their use in biomaterial and biochemical applications. Lignin biorefining efforts are therefore under investigation meet these needs. The detailed knowledge of the molecular structure native biorefinery lignins essential understanding extraction mechanisms as well chemical properties molecules. objective this work was study reactivity during a cyclic organosolv process adopting physical protection strategies. As...
Studies have shown that the size of LNP depends on molecular weight (
Studies on the pyrolysis mechanisms of lignin model compounds have largely focused initial homolytic cleavage reactions. It has been noted, however, that concerted may also account for observed product formation. In current work, latter processes are examined and compared to former, by application density functional theory calculations fully substituted models. Results show activation energies reactions somewhat lower than bond dissociation homolysis Kinetic analysis revealed pathway is...
The recently discovered lignin composed of caffeoyl alcohol monolignols or C-lignin is particularly intriguing given its homogeneous, linear polymeric structure and exclusive benzodioxane linkage between monomers. By virtue this simplified chemistry, the potential emerges for improved valorization strategies with relative to other natural heterogeneous lignins. To better understand polymers, we characterize thermodynamics radical recombination dimerization reactions forming bond dissociation...
Vibrational spectroscopy is a very suitable tool for investigating the plant cell wall in situ with almost no sample preparation. The structural information of all different constituents contained single spectrum. Interpretation therefore heavily relies on reference spectra and understanding vibrational behavior components under study. For first time, we show infrared (IR) Raman dibenzodioxocin (DBDO), an important lignin substructure. A detailed assignment molecule, based quantum chemical...
Lignocellulosic biomass is a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived chemicals develop biobased wood adhesives, which motivates integrated biorefineries effectively convert feedstock into desirable chemicals. Herein, lignin recovered from kraft biorefinery (L-KB) and two bio-oils, prepared laboratory-scale solvent liquefaction of (BO-SL/L) fast pyrolysis pinewood (BO-FP/PW), respectively, have been used substitute 50% (w/w) phenol in novolac phenol–formaldehyde (NPF) resin system. The...
In this work, the effect of temperature on charcoal structure and chemical composition is investigated for four tree species. Wood carbonized at various temperatures analyzed by mid infrared spectroscopy coupled with multivariate analysis thermogravimetric to characterize during carbonization process. The models were able distinguish between species wood thermal treatments, revealing that characteristics depend not only species, but also temperature. This work demonstrates potential in...
Structured biofoams have been prepared from the readily available renewable biopolymer xylan by employing an ice-templating technique, where pore morphology of material can be controlled solidification conditions and molecular structure polysaccharide. Furthermore, reinforcement these biodegradable foams using cellulose nanocrystals shows potential for strongly improved mechanical properties.