Publications by authors named "Eliott Orzan"
Properties of cellulose are typically functionalized by organic chemistry means. We progress an alternative facile way to functionalize cellulose by functional group counter-cation exchange. While ion-exchange is established for cellulose, it is far from exploited and understood beyond the most common cation, sodium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFXylan is primarily found in the secondary cell wall of plants providing strength and integrity. To take advantage of the reinforcing effect of xylan in papermaking, it is crucial to understand its role in pulp fibers, as it undergoes substantial changes during pulping. However, the contributions of xylan that is added afterwards (extrinsic) and xylan present after pulping (intrinsic) remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Enzymatic degradation of plant polysaccharides, like cellulose and hemicellulose, is complex and requires models that mimic natural systems to study it effectively.
- In this study, researchers used xylan-coated cellulose thin films to observe the activity of an enzyme called endo-1,4-β-xylanase, noting a correlation between enzyme concentration and the amount of xylan degraded.
- Results showed that both the enzyme concentration and incubation time significantly affected the degradation process, confirmed by atomic force microscopy, demonstrating a promising new model for studying biopolymer interactions at the nanoscale.