Volume 10 Issue 4

Flavonoids represent a large group of polyphenols that have been recognized to exert a wide range of biological effects, such as anticancer, inflammation inhibition, anti-aging, and neuroprotective activities. In the forest industry, tree twigs have been treated as residues; however, tree twigs could be a rich source of high-value added compounds, which have been relatively unexplored. In this study, an investigation into the chemical constituent of extractives from S. japonica twigsresulted in the isolation of a new (Z)-caffeoyl flavonol glycoside that was elucidated as myricetin 3-O-(4”-(Z)-caffeoyl)-α-rhamnopyranoside (IV). The structure of the new compound was established mostly on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques and other physiochemical evidences. Among the three known flavonoids extracted in this work, including isoquercitrin (I), isorhamnetin 3′-O–β-D-glucopyranoside (II), and myricitrin (III), II and III have never been previously reported in the Sophora genus.

This study outlines the results of a biobleaching study of acacia (A. mangium) and eucalyptus (E. globulus) hardwood kraft pulps with commercial xylanase (Optimase CX 72 L). The comparative study was carried out using an elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching sequence (D0EPD1D2) after the enzyme (X) stage. The enzyme treatment resulted in improved optical properties with a reduction in bleach chemical consumption. At an equivalent bleach chemical consumption, a brightness gain of 2.1 and 1.7 units and a whiteness gain of 2.7 and 2.3 units were observed with xylanase treatment in acacia and eucalyptus pulps, respectively. In ECF bleaching using the D0EPD1D2 sequence, a final brightness was achieved to the extent of 90% ISO and 89% ISO for acacia and eucalyptus, respectively, at an equivalent charge of bleach chemicals. The post-color (PC) number was also reduced by up to 45% for both hardwood pulps compared with the control. The bleachability of acacia was observed to be significantly higher than that of eucalyptus. In addition, a 17.0% and 23.0% reduction in chlorine dioxide and sodium hydroxide, respectively, were obtained for both hardwood pulps after xylanase pre-bleaching, thus indicating an environmentally friendly approach to the process.

The effects of milling process parameters on cutting forces and surface roughness were studied during peripheral up milling of bamboo scrimber. The study results indicated that the effect of feed rate on cutting force components Fx, +Fy, –Fy, and surface roughness Ra were the most significant compared to spindle speed and cut depth during longitudinal milling. Fx, +Fy, –Fy, and Ra decreased slightly with increasing spindle speed, but increased greatly with increasing feed rate. In addition, cutting direction had a great effect on the cutting force components Fx and +Fy, as well as the machined surface roughness Ra. Fx, +Fy, and Ra during longitudinal cutting were always larger than those during end-grain cutting. Decreasing the feed rate appropriately could greatly improve the quality of the machined surface.

Crushing behaviors of luffa sponges were studied through mechanical experiments. Controlled by four-order hierarchical and anisotropic structures, luffa sponges exhibit anisotropic responses along axial, radial, and circumferential directions. The ultra-thin but stiff inner surface layer dominates the crushing behavior, endowing the axially compressed luffa cylinder with structural integrity, enhancing the elastic deformation and yielding strength. In radial, circumferential, and lateral compressions, after removing the inner surface layer, luffa sponges are compliant and have large quasi-linear deformation before densification, without a plateau characterized by yielding and deformation. Immersed into water, crushed luffa sponge cylinders recover their geometry completely. However, compression strength is only partially restored. Gradual damage of the inner surface layer in water immersing/drying cycles greatly weakens the compression strength. In the case of removal of the inner surface layer, crushed luffa sponge cylinders completely restore their quasi-linear deformation ability during the water immersing/drying cycles.

The effects of steamed Populus deltoides fiber were studied relative to the physical, mechanical, and morphological characteristics of composites made from virgin polypropylene. Fibers of Populus deltoides were used during the reinforcement phase at 180 °C for 1 h. The tests were carried out with 57% of virgin polypropylene that was combined with 3% of maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene and 40% of wood fiber. The wood fiber portion consisted of either non-steamed fiber, steamed fiber, and an equal mixture of the two kinds of fiber. Mixing was done using an internal mixer at 180 °C and 60 rpm, and the standard samples were constructed by injection molding. Then, the physical and mechanical characteristics of samples were measured. To consider compatibility between the matrix and reinforcement phase, SEM pictures were taken from the break surface of composite samples. The results showed that the composites’ strengths were affected by steam, as components having steamed fibers had the best mechanical strength and dimensional stability, and also the least water absorption and thickness swelling.

Marine environments are unique habitats for microorganisms and represent uninvestigated areas that possess valuable resources. Fungi may also be important because they contribute to marine ecosystems as decomposers. The aims of this study were to investigate the halo-tolerance of marine-derived fungi and their enzymatic properties. Eighteen fungal strains representing 11 different species were used, which included 17 ascomycetes and a zygomycete. The majority were not affected by salinity and showed endo-glucanase (EG) and β-glucosidase (BGL) activities. Interestingly, the cellulolytic enzyme activity derived from Penicillium chrysogenum FU42 increased with salinity. To investigate whether this increase was due to an adaptation or an innate ability of the species, P. chrysogenum KCTC6933, which originated from a terrestrial environment, was used as a control, and its enzymatic properties were compared. Consequently, P. chrysogenum FU42, which was derived from the ocean, showed unique enzymatic properties that might enable the fungus to live in the ocean and contribute to the nutrient cycle in marine ecosystems.

The influence of selected factors, such as wood species, veneer combinations, and loading cycles, on the bending strength and modulus of elasticity of glued laminated wood was investigated after cyclic loading of 0, 1000, 3000, and 7000 cycles with European beech (Fagus sylvatica (L.)) and Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula (L.)) The laminated woods were created by a combination of densified and non-densified veneers. The 30% densification was carried out by cold rolling. All factors and their interactions had statistically significant influence on the modulus of elasticity. Similarly, the influence of all factors on bending strength was statistically significant. However, the mutual interaction of all factors had no significant effect.

Microspheres were generated after subjecting corn stem rind to high-pressure water pretreatment. These microspheres can be divided into two categories according to their location: free microspheres and adsorbed microspheres. The formation and characterization of both microsphere types were studied. For the free microspheres, the maximum formation was reached at 180 °C; when the temperature was too high (200 °C) or too low (120 °C), no free microspheres were observed. As pretreatment temperature was varied, the morphologies of the free microspheres were different. For the adsorbed microspheres, their formation occurred over a wider temperature range, and their density increased with rising pretreatment temperature. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, many C=C and C=O bonds were identified on the surface of the free microspheres, indicating the presence of functional groups similar to those of lignin. Compared with untreated corn stem rind, the lignin signal of the residue surface was enhanced, which may be attributable to the increase in adsorbed microsphere quantity.

In this work, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air of a secondary fiber paper mill were analyzed. For the sake of studying pollution comprehensively, four sites in the paper mill were analyzed and active sampling methods were used. Desorption was carried out with two solvents, carbon disulfide and dichloromethane. The compositions of VOCs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The main identified substances in the four sites were as follows: (1) waste paper sorting room: alkanes, phenols, and esters; (2) papermaking workshop: benzene series, alkanes, ethers, and phenols; (3) vacuum pump outlet: benzene series and phenols; and (4) office area: benzene series and phenols. Two main toxic substances in VOCs, the benzene series and phenols, were detected in the ambient air of the paper mill. The benzene series existed in three places along the main process of the paper mill and even existed in the office area, which was far away from the production line. Additionally, phenols were detected in all sampling locations in the paper mill.

The effect of immobilized yeast on bioethanol production before and after adding laser-pretreated corn stalk residue were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of adding residue. An optimum experimental condition was obtained at pH 4.5, 2.08% yeast concentration, and 0.20% corn stalk residue. Under these conditions, adding residue increased the yield of bioethanol from 53.2% to 86.5%, which matched the predicted value. The yield was relatively stable within 28 d, with a downward trend subsequently appearing.