Soybean hulls: Optimization of the pulping and bleaching processes and carboxymethyl cellulose synthesis

The potential of carboxylmethyl cellulose from empty fruit bunch as versatile material in food coating: A review

The rising demand for food packaging has led to a growing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly food coatings. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), being a versatile cellulose derivative produced from various lignocellulosic sources, has emerged in edible food coatings. This review evaluates the research trends on CMC production from empty fruit bunch (EFB) as a potential edible food coating material by systematic review approach. It explores sustainable pre-treatment for green cellulose and different CMC synthesis methods. The review compares CMC-based coatings to other materials, focusing on formulation processes, coating quality, safety, and commercial feasibility. The bibliometric analysis is performed to correlate food coating and CMC. As a result, the study discovered the rapid growth in research on edible food coatings made from CMC for various food industry applications. The green approach such as ozone pre-treatment appear as promising method for cellulose isolation from EFB to be used as raw material for CMC. The synthesis conditions of the treatment would affect the CMC characteristics and usage. Herein, utilizing CMC from cellulose EFB in coating formulation and on coated food shows different benefits. This review provides a road map for future research with potential to make important contributions to the food industry's long-term evolution.

Direct synthesis of a lithium carboxymethyl cellulose binder using wood dissolving pulp for high-performance LiFePO4 cathodes in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Li) is a promising novel water-based binder for lithium-ion batteries. The direct synthesis of CMC-Li was innovatively developed using abundant wood dissolving pulp materials from hardwood (HW) and softwood (SW). The resulting CMC-Li-HW and CMC-Li-SW binders possessed a suitable degree of substitutions and excellent molecular weight distributions with an appropriate quantity of long- and short-chain celluloses, which facilitated the construction of a reinforced concrete-like bonding system. When used as cathode binders in LiFePO4 batteries, they uniformly coated and dispersed the electrode materials, formed a compact and stable conductive network with high mechanical strength and showed sufficient lithium replenishment. The prepared LiFePO4 batteries exhibited good mechanical stability, low charge transfer impedance, high initial discharge capacity (∼180 mAh/g), high initial Coulombic efficiency (99 %), excellent cycling performance (<3% loss over 200 cycles) and good rate capability, thereby outperforming CMC-Na and the widely used cathode binder polyvinylidene fluoride.

Effects of soyhulls with different particle size on the growth performance, blood indices and gut microbiota of yellow feather broilers

1. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of soyhulls with different particle sizes on the growth performance, blood indices and gut microbiota of yellow feather broilers.2. Total of 240 healthy, one-day-old, yellow feather broilers were randomly divided into four groups, with six pen replicates within each group and ten birds per pen. The control group birds were fed the basal diet (Control). For the treatment groups, 5% soyhulls with different particle sizes were included in the basal diet. The particle size geometric mean diameters (dgw) of the soyhulls in the three treatment groups were 299.69 μm (LowPS), 489.85 μm (MediumPS) and 734.83 μm (HighPS) with geometric standard deviation (Sgw) 1.75 μm, 1.62 μm and 1.67 μm, respectively.3. Results showed that the growth performance variables and organ indices were not different among the four groups. The MediumPS group had increased TG, T-CHO, ALT, HDL-C, and GSH-PX levels and decreased T-AOC levels, whereas LowPS and HighPS groups had increased HDL-C and GSH-PX levels (p < 0.05). Microbial diversity analysis showed that the intestinal microbiota of yellow feather broilers mainly included Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Inclusion of 5% soyhulls with different particle size had no effect on alpha diversity indices of caecal microbiota. The HighPS group had significantly higher relative abundance of Firmicutes spp. and lower Bacteroidetes spp. compared with the LowPS and MediumPS group but this was not different from the Control group. The relative abundance of Cyanobacteria spp. was significantly higher in the HighPS group than the other three groups. LEfSe analysis showed that there were more enriched biomarker taxa in the groups with soyhulls than the control group.4. Overall, the inclusion of soyhulls with different particle sizes had limited effects on growth performance, blood indices and caecal microbiota composition of yellow feather broilers.

Synthesis and its biological activity of carboxymethyl hemicellulose p-hydroxybenzoate (P-CMHC)

Hemicellulose extracted from ecalyptus APMP pulping waste liquor and undergoes etherification modification to produce carboxymethyl hemicellulose (CMHC). Subsequently, CMHC undergoes esterification reaction with p-hydroxybenzoic acid to synthesize a novel polysaccharide-based preservative known as carboxymethyl hemicellulose p-hydroxybenzoate (P-CMHC). The synthesis conditions of P-CMHC were optimized using the response surface methodology, resulting in an optimal esterification condition that achieved a degree of substitution of 0.232. P-CMHC exhibits excellent antioxidant activity, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Additionally, it demonstrates favorable hygroscopic and moisturizing properties. Thiazole blue (MTT) experiments evaluating cell proliferation rate indicate that P-CMHC possesses negligible cytotoxicity, making it a promising, safe, and healthy preservative. Consequently, it can be considered as a new material for applications in the fields of biomedicine, food, and cosmetics.

Cellulose acetate from lignocellulosic residues: An eco-friendly approach based on a hydrothermal process

The objective of this study was to produce cellulose acetate (CA) from oat (OH) and soybean (SH) hulls through an eco-friendly solvent-and catalyst-free hydrothermal process, and also to compare the acetylation of cellulose by the conventional synthesis process, employing sulfuric acid as the catalyst, and acetic acid as solvent. Cellulose was extracted from OH and SH using a one-step chlorine-free process, resulting in materials with 86 and 81 % cellulose, respectively. CA samples obtained by hydrothermal process had degrees of substitution ranging from 0.95 to 1.47, and from 1.10 to 1.50, for OH and SH samples, respectively, being classified as monoacetates, while the conventional acetylation resulted in cellulose di- and triacetates. The acetylation by the hydrothermal process did not affect cellulose fibers morphology or crystallinity. CA samples obtained by the conventional process showed changes in their surface morphology, with decrease in crystallinity indexes. Viscosimetric average molar mass increased for all modified samples, with mass gain ranging from 16.26 to 519.70 %. The hydrothermal treatment proved to be a promising process for obtaining cellulose monoacetates with some advantages, including short reaction times, it is a one-step process, and lower effluents generation when compared to the conventional processes.

Composition, morphology, interfacial rheology and emulsifying ability of soy hull polysaccharides extracted with ammonium oxalate and sodium citrate as extractants

BACKGROUND

Soy hull, a by-product of crop processing, is rich in pectin-like polysaccharides that have potential for thickening, gelling and emulsifying applications. The effect of ammonium oxalate (SHPA) and sodium citrate (SHPS) on the conformation, physicochemical properties and emulsifying ability of soy hull polysaccharide (SHP) were investigated.

RESULTS

The composition analysis showed that SHPS had more polysaccharide, protein, and higher molecular weight than SHPA. Images of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that SHPS molecules appeared spherical bodies with smooth and firm surfaces, while SHPA molecules appeared chain-like bodies with rough and wrinkled surface. At the oil-water interface, SHPS adsorbed faster and formed a more elastic interfacial layer than SHPA. The characterization of the prepared emulsions showed that the SHPS emulsion was a smaller particle size and more stable system within 30 days than SHPA emulsion, especially at the SHPS concentration of 9 mg mL^-1 . Images of cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) also demonstrated SHPS formed clearer network structure on the surface of the oil droplets, compared to SHPA.

CONCLUSION

Overall, ammonium oxalate and sodium citrate significantly influenced the composition and properties of the SHP. SHPS exhibited a better emulsifying ability than SHPA, which was mainly due to the higher protein content of SHPS and the sodium ion (Na⁺ ) residue of sodium citrate. This study is useful for the extraction and application of SHP and other plant-based polysaccharides. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microbial lipid production from soybean hulls using Lipomyces starkeyi LPB53 in a circular economy

Soybean hulls are lignocellulosic residuesgeneratedinthe industrial processing of soybean, representing about 5 % of the mass of the whole bean. This by-product isan importantsource of polymers suchas cellulose(34 %) and hemicellulose (11 %),which could bevalorizedvia biotechnology to improvethe economic returnof the oilseed chain. In the present work,soybean hulls were evaluated as a carbon sourcefor biolipid productionbyLipomycesstarkeyi LPB 53. Initially the hulls were treated physicochemically and enzymatically to obtain fermentable sugars. Subsequently, biomass growth was evaluated using different nitrogen sources andthe lipid production was optimized, reaching a maximum cell biomass concentration of 26.5 g/L with 42.5 % of lipids. Around 65 % of the xylose content was consumed.The obtained oil wasmajorlycomposed of oleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, linoleic and stearic fatty acids in a proportion of 54 %, 32 %, 4 %, 3 % and 2 %, respectively.

Composites of cellulose nanocrystals in combination with either cellulose nanofibril or carboxymethylcellulose as functional packaging films

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were mixed with either cellulose nanofibril (CNF) or carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in variable proportions (0/100, 20/80, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, 80/20 and 100/0) to obtain cast films with acceptable barrier and mechanical properties as replacements for food packaging plastics. Both CNF and CMC improved tensile strength, elongation, UV opacity, air resistance, hydrophobicity (WCA-water contact angle), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen impermeability in pure CNC. WVTR and oxygen permeability were strongly dependent on relative humidity (RH). Interestingly, the greatest effect on WVTR was observed at RH = 90% in films containing CMC in proportions above 60%. CMC- and CNF-containing films had oxygen impermeability up to an RH level of 80% and 60%, respectively. The previous effects were confirmed by food packaging simulation tests, where CMC-containing films proved the best performers. The composite films studied were biodegradable-which constitutes a major environmental related advantage-to an extent proportional to their content in CMC or CNF.

A review on challenges and issues with carboxymethylation of natural gums: The widely used excipients for conventional and novel dosage forms

Diverse properties of natural gums have made them quite useful for various pharmaceutical applications. However, they suffer from various problems, including unregulated hydration rates, microbial degradation, and decline in viscosity during warehousing. Among various chemical procedures for modification of gums, carboxymethylation has been widely studied due to its simplicity and efficiency. Despite the availability of numerous research articles on natural gums and their uses, a comprehensive review on carboxymethylation of natural gums and their applications in the pharmaceutical and other biomedical fields is not published until now. This review outlines the classification of gums and their derivatization methods. Further, we have discussed various techniques of carboxymethylation, process of determination of degree of substitution, and functionalization pattern of substituted gums. Detailed information about the application of carboxymethyl gums as drug delivery carriers has been described. The article also gives a brief account on tissue engineering and cell delivery potential of carboxymethylated gums.

Soybean hulls as carbohydrate feedstock for medium to high-value biomolecule production in biorefineries: A review

Soybean is one of the major world crops, with an annual production of 359 million tons. Each ton of processed soybean generates 50-80 kg of soybean hulls (SHs), representing 5-8% of the whole seed. Due to environmental concerns and great economic potential, the search of SHs re-use solutions are deeply discussed. The lignocellulosic composition of SHs has attracted the attention of the scientific and productive sector. Recently, some studies have reported the use of SHs in the production of medium to high value-added molecules, with potential applications in food and feed, agriculture, bioenergy, and other segments. This review presents biotechnological approaches and processes for the management and exploitation of SHs, including pre-treatment methods and fermentation techniques, for the production of different biomolecules. Great potentialities and innovations were found concerning SH exploration and valorisation of the soybean chain under a biorefinery and circular bioeconomy optic.

Antioxidant and UV-Blocking Properties of a Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Lignin Composite Film Produced from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) pulp with the highest cellulose content of 83.42% was obtained from an optimized process of acid pretreatment (0.5% v/v H2SO4), alkaline extraction (15% w/w NaOH), and hydrogen peroxide bleaching (10% w/v H2O2), respectively. The EFB cellulose was carboxymethylated, and the obtained carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was readily water-soluble (81.32%). The EFB CMC was blended with glycerol and cast into a composite film. Lignin that precipitated from the EFB black liquor was also incorporated into the film at different concentrations, and its effect on the UV-blocking properties of the film was determined. Interestingly, the EFB CMC film without lignin addition completely blocked UV-B transmittance. The incorporation of lignin at all concentrations significantly enhanced the UV-A blocking and other physical properties of the film, including the surface roughness, thickness, and thermal stability, although the tensile strength and water vapor permeability were not significantly affected. Complete UV-A and UV-B blocking were observed when lignin was added at 0.2% (w/v), and the film also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals with an half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 3.87 mg mL-1.

Opportunities for the Use of Brazilian Biomass to Produce Renewable Chemicals and Materials

This Review highlights the principal crops of Brazil and how their harvest waste can be used in the chemicals and materials industries. The Review covers various plants; with grains, fruits, trees and nuts all being discussed. Native and adopted plants are included and studies on using these plants as a source of chemicals and materials for industrial applications, polymer synthesis, medicinal use and in chemical research are discussed. The main aim of the Review is to highlight the principal Brazilian agricultural resources; such as sugarcane, oranges and soybean, as well as secondary resources, such as andiroba brazil nut, buriti and others, which should be explored further for scientific and technological applications. Furthermore, vegetable oils, carbohydrates (starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose and pectin), flavones and essential oils are described as well as their potential applications.

A Way to Close the Loop: Physicochemical and Adsorbing Properties of Soybean Hulls Recovered After Soybean Peroxidase Extraction

Soybean hulls are one of the by-products of soybean crushing and find application mainly in the animal feed sector. Nevertheless, soybean hulls have been already exploited as source of peroxidase (soybean peroxidase, SBP), an enzyme adopted in a wide range of applications such as bioremediation and wastewater treatment, biocatalysis, diagnostic tests, therapeutics and biosensors. In this work, the soybean hulls after the SBP extraction, destined to become a putrescible waste, were recovered and employed as adsorbents for water remediation due to their cellulose-based composition. They were studied from a physicochemical point of view using different characterization techniques and applied for the adsorption of five inorganic ions [Fe(III), Al(III), Cr(III), Ni(II), and Mn(II)] in different aqueous matrixes. The behavior of the exhausted soybean hulls was compared to pristine hulls, demonstrating better performances as pollutant adsorbents despite significant changes in their features, especially in terms of surface morphology, charge and composition. Overall, this work evidences that these kinds of double-recovered scraps are an effective and sustainable alternative for metal contaminants removal from water.