Reversible Photo-Responsive Hydrophobic Coating Synthesized from Lignin-Derivable Molecules on Nanocellulose Films for Packaging Applications.

Paper-based packaging can offer a sustainable replacement for plastics. However, paper provides a poor barrier to water, oxygen and moisture. This study presents a novel renewable lignocellulosic composite made from a hydrophobic photo-reversible coating deposited onto a cellulose nanofiber film that has improved barrier properties and can be reprocessed.

Fate and recovery of nitrogen applied as slow release brown coal-urea in field microcosms: N tracer study.

The over-use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers for crop production can cause environmental pollution through leaching and gaseous losses, resulting in low N use efficiency (NUE). Previous work has shown that brown coal (BC) combined with urea can slow down the fertiliser-N release to better synchronise soil N supply with crop N demand. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of granulated BC-urea (BCU) applied to sweet corn on NUE, fate and recovery of fertiliser-N using an N tracer technique.

Modulating superabsorbent polymer properties by adjusting the amphiphilicity.

The role of amphiphilicity in polysaccharide-based superabsorbent polymers is paramount in determining material properties. While the performance of freeze-dried polymers is improved by maximizing hydrophilicity, this may not be the case for evaporative-dried polymers. In this study, four diglycidyl ether crosslinkers, with varying chain lengths and amphiphilicities, were used to synthesize a series of evaporative-dried carboxymethyl cellulose-based superabsorbent films.

Determination of xylooligosaccharides produced from enzymatic hydrolysis of beechwood xylan using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPAEC-QqQ-MS) was applied to the determination of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) derived from enzymatically hydrolysed commercial xylan from beechwood and the analytical performance and advantages of the method explored. Separation, eluent suppression, electrospray ionisation, and detection options to enhance XOS sensitivity and selectivity were evaluated, delivering a new simple, fast, selective, and sensitive solution for the characterisation of these complex compounds. The method was fully validated in terms of its analytical performance for those XOS for which standards were available, i.

Relaxation Effects of Essential Oils Are Explained by Their Interactions with Human Brain Neurotransmitter Receptors and Electroencephalography Rhythms.

Inhaled essential oils (EOs) are bioavailable to the brain and are consistently reported to promote relaxation effects. Their mechanisms of action are however not well understood. The aim of this investigation was to assess the neuroactivity of EOs based on their (i) binding interactions to neurotransmitter receptors and (ii) bioelectrical activities in the brain as measured by electroencephalography (EEG).

Extraction and crosslinking of bromelain aggregates for improved stability and reusability from pineapple processing waste.

The present study is first of its kind that focuses upon the extraction of bromelain from pineapple core waste and stabilising it as insoluble cross-linked aggregates. The influence of process variables such as the choice of precipitant, type of cross-linker, concentration of cross-linker and the reaction time for cross-linking step was investigated upon the activity recovery of bromelain cross-linked aggregates. The optimization of this biocatalyst preparation specifically recovered 87% of the enzymatic activity available in pineapple core waste by ammonium sulphate (60%, w/v) precipitation followed by cross-linking for 4 h with 80 mM glutaraldehyde.

CuSO/HO-Catalyzed Lignin Depolymerization under the Irradiation of Microwaves.

The increasing demand for renewable materials in the world has resulted in sustained efforts to utilize biomass in a better way. Lignin, a natural and abundant polymer in plants, has provided an ongoing challenge for many researchers seeking ways to better utilize this abundant resource. Here, we report a very efficient lignin depolymerization strategy with the assistant of microwave radiation.

Nitrogen Dynamics in Soil Fertilized with Slow Release Brown Coal-Urea Fertilizers.

Reducing the release rate of urea can increase its use efficiency and minimize negative effects on the environment. A novel fertilizer material that was formed by blending brown coal (BC) with urea, delayed fertilizer N release in controlled climatic conditions in a glasshouse, through strong retention facilitated by the extensive surface area, porous structure and chemical functional groups in the BC. However, the role of BC as a carrier of synthetic urea and the effect of their interaction with various soil types on the dynamics and mineralization of N remains largely unclear.

A slow release brown coal-urea fertiliser reduced gaseous N loss from soil and increased silver beet yield and N uptake.

Increasing crop yield and fertiliser nitrogen (N)-use efficiency is important for productive agricultural systems with a reduced environmental footprint. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of slow release brown coal-urea (BCU) fertiliser on the gaseous N losses, biomass yield and N uptake by silver beet (Beta vulgaris L.) compared to commercial urea.

An integrated green biorefinery approach towards simultaneous recovery of pectin and polyphenols coupled with bioethanol production from waste pomegranate peels.

An integrated biorefinery, incorporating hydrothermal processing of waste pomegranate peels (WPP), was proposed for the acid and organic solvent-free simultaneous recovery of pectin and phenolics with bioethanol production. The hydrothermal treatment (HT) was optimized using Box-Behnken design and the maximum recovery of pectin (18.8-20.

Hybrid brown coal-urea fertiliser reduces nitrogen loss compared to urea alone.

Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers, such as urea, are susceptible to rapid dissipation from soil. More gradual release of mineral N from fertiliser may reduce the off-site movement of mineral N, thereby enhancing N supply to crops and minimising negative off-site impacts. We hypothesised that granulation of urea with humified brown coal (BC) delays mineral N release and maintains higher concentrations of N in soil than conventional urea granules.

Bioactives from fruit processing wastes: Green approaches to valuable chemicals.

Fruit processing industries contribute more than 0.5billion tonnes of waste worldwide. The global availability of this feedstock and its untapped potential has encouraged researchers to perform detailed studies on value-addition potential of fruit processing waste (FPW).

Photoelectrochemical water oxidation by screen printed ZnO nanoparticle films: effect of pH on catalytic activity and stability.

Nanostructured ZnO films are promising photoanode materials in photoelectrochemical water splitting. While such ZnO photoanodes have achieved high activity and good light conversion efficiency in the UV spectral region, their application in water splitting devices has been hampered by the susceptibility of ZnO towards photocorrosion in aqueous electrolytes. We report a systematic investigation aimed at optimising the electrolyte solution to improve the long-term stability of ZnO photoanodes.

Winery wastewater inhibits seed germination and vegetative growth of common crop species.

The ability to reuse winery wastewater would be of significant benefit to the wine industry, as it could potentially be a cost-effective method of wastewater management, whilst at the same time providing a valuable water resource. This study investigated the effects of different dilutions of a semi-synthetic winery wastewater on the growth and germination of four common crop species in a glasshouse study; barley (Hordeum vulgare), millet (Pennisetum glaucum), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica). The wastewater caused a significant delay in the germination of lucerne, millet and phalaris, although overall germination percentage of all species was not affected.

Chemical composition of composted grape marc.

Composted grape marc, produced at the vineyard using different procedures, is generally returned into the vineyard. Information on the chemical composition of these grape marc composts is lacking, particularly the variability that may result from different composting practices. In this study, grape marc composts, varying in age from 3 months to 3 years, were collected from four different vineyards and subjected to detailed chemical analysis.