Toward the use of mixed microbial cultures for the biological production of adipic and levulinic acid.

Biological synthesis of high added-value compounds like adipic acid (AA), levulinic acid (LA), or polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) using pure culture has been separately reported. However, pure culture requires sterile conditions and the use of specific carbon sources resulting in high operating costs. Different alternatives based on the use of mixed microbial cultures (MMC) have been explored to resolve this problem.

Biocomposites of Bio-Polyethylene Reinforced with a Hydrothermal-Alkaline Sugarcane Bagasse Pulp and Coupled with a Bio-Based Compatibilizer.

Bio-polyethylene (BioPE, derived from sugarcane), sugarcane bagasse pulp, and two compatibilizers (fossil and bio-based), were used to manufacture biocomposite filaments for 3D printing. Biocomposite filaments were manufactured and characterized in detail, including measurement of water absorption, mechanical properties, thermal stability and decomposition temperature (thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA)). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed to measure the glass transition temperature (Tg).

Life cycle assessment of bagasse fiber reinforced biocomposites.

This study aims to evaluate the life cycle environmental implications of producing fiber-reinforced biocomposite pellets, compared with sugarcane- and petroleum-based polyethylene (PE) pellets. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is used to evaluate the production of four types of pellets. LCA allows the evaluation of the benefits of improving the production of biobased materials by replacing part of the sugarcane bioPE with bagasse fibers.

Lignocellulosic nanofibers from triticale straw: The influence of hemicelluloses and lignin in their production and properties.

The present work aims to determine the influence of hemicellulose and lignin content in the production of lignocellulosic nanofibers (LCNF) from triticale straws. Triticale straws were digested and then gradually delignified, preserving as much hemicelluloses as possible. The obtained LCNF was characterized and used as paper strength additive, observing that hemicellulose and lignin have a key role on the final properties thereof, as well as on their reinforcing potential as paper additive, obtaining LCNF with the same paper reinforcing potential than CNF obtained by TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-piperidin-1-yl)oxyl) mediated oxidation.

Nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) from eucalyptus sawdust as a dry strength agent of unrefined eucalyptus handsheets.

Nanofibrillated cellulose has been obtained from the cellulosic fraction of eucalyptus sawdust. The fractionation process involved the partial removal of hemicelluloses and lignin. CNF was obtained using TEMPO oxidation with NaOCl in basic medium followed by mechanical homogenization.