1
|
Chen F, Ritter M, Xu Y, Tu K, Koch SM, Yan W, Bian H, Ding Y, Sun J, Burgert I. Lightweight, Strong, and Transparent Wood Films Produced by Capillary Driven Self-Densification. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311966. [PMID: 38770995 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Wood delignification and densification enable the production of high strength and/or transparent wood materials with exceptional properties. However, processing needs to be more sustainable and besides the chemical delignification treatments, energy intense hot-pressing calls for alternative approaches. Here, this study shows that additional softening of delignified wood via a mild swelling process using an ionic liquid-water mixture enables the densification of tube-line wood cells into layer-by-layer sheet structures without hot-pressing. The natural capillary force induces self-densification in a simple drying process resulting in a transparent wood film. The as-prepared films with ≈150 µm thickness possess an optical transmittance ≈70%, while maintaining optical haze >95%. Due to the densely packed sheet structure with a large interfacial area, the reassembled wood film is fivefold stronger and stiffer than the delignified wood in fiber direction. Owing to a low density, the specific tensile strength and elastic modulus are as high as 282 MPa cm3 g-1 and 31 GPa cm3 g-1. A facile and highly energy efficient wood nanotechnology approach are demonstrated toward more sustainable materials and processes by directly converting delignified wood into transparent wood omitting polymeric matrix infiltration or mechanical pressing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Chen
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Surface and Interface Regulation Technology and Equipment for Renewable Energy Materials, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices-Ministry of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Maximilian Ritter
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Yifan Xu
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Surface and Interface Regulation Technology and Equipment for Renewable Energy Materials, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices-Ministry of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Kunkun Tu
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221008, China
| | - Sophie Marie Koch
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Wenqing Yan
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Huiyang Bian
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
| | - Yong Ding
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Jianguo Sun
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Burgert
- Wood Materials Science Group, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
- WoodTec Group, Cellulose & Wood Materials, Empa, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Keplinger T, Wittel FK, Rüggeberg M, Burgert I. Wood Derived Cellulose Scaffolds-Processing and Mechanics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2001375. [PMID: 32797688 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Wood-derived cellulose materials obtained by structure-retaining delignification are attracting increasing attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and great potential to serve as renewable and CO2 storing cellulose scaffolds for advanced hybrid materials with embedded functionality. Various delignification protocols and a multitude of further processing steps including polymer impregnation and densification are applied resulting in a large range of properties. However, treatment optimization requires a more comprehensive characterization of the developed materials in terms of structure, chemical composition, and mechanical properties for faster progress in the field. Herein, the current protocols for structure-retaining delignification are reviewed and the emphasis is placed on the mechanical characterization at different hierarchical levels of the cellulose scaffolds by experiments and modeling to reveal the underlying structure-property relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Keplinger
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Building Materials, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 3, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
- Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research, Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Falk K Wittel
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Building Materials, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 3, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rüggeberg
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Building Materials, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 3, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
- Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research, Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Burgert
- ETH Zürich, Institute for Building Materials, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 3, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
- Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research, Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pająk M, Vítek P, Urban O, Klem K, Wąsik R, Michalec K, Pietrzykowski M. Genotype and soil substrate effects on the wood quality of poplar grown in a reclaimed lignite-mining area. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 285:112146. [PMID: 33601261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of the structural organisation and chemistry of the cell walls in woody tissues is crucial from the perspective of plant mechanical strength, water transportability, as well as subsequent commercial utilisation of the wood. Poplar trees (Populus sp.), grown on two reclamation substrates ("Humus" and "Sand") under the extreme soil conditions of an external coal mining spoil heap of the lignite mine in Bełchatów (Central Poland), were examined. Conventional parameters - tree-ring width (TRW) and wood density (WD) resolved annually (years 2008-2017) were corroborated by a novel approach of Raman spectroscopic analysis. Annually resolved Raman spectroscopic data representing the lignin-to-cellulose ratio (Li/Ce) enabled to estimate trends of lignification. The above traits were obtained for the three poplar genotypes: H-275, Grandis, and Androscoggin to assess the suitability of their plantation on the reclaimed heap. Our results show a significant effect of genotype on TRW, WD, and the Raman Li/Ce, while the effect of the soil substrate was less pronounced. The highest Li/Ce was identified in the H-275 genotype grown on a substrate with hummus. H-275 also showed higher TRW values compared to the other genotypes. WD was significantly higher in Grandis and Androscoggin genotypes grown on the "Sand" substrate. Associations between tree-ring parameters and climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) were mostly low and not statistically significant. Our findings from individual tree rings indicate that the genotype is the crucial factor influencing the lignification of poplar trees grown on post-mining lands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Pająk
- Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al 29 Listopada 46, Krakow, PL, 31425, Poland
| | - P Vítek
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, Brno, CZ, 60300, Czech Republic.
| | - O Urban
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, Brno, CZ, 60300, Czech Republic
| | - K Klem
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, Brno, CZ, 60300, Czech Republic
| | - R Wąsik
- Department of Forest Utilization, Engineering and Forest Techniques, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al 29 Listopada 46, Krakow, PL, 31425, Poland
| | - K Michalec
- Department of Forest Utilization, Engineering and Forest Techniques, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al 29 Listopada 46, Krakow, PL, 31425, Poland
| | - M Pietrzykowski
- Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al 29 Listopada 46, Krakow, PL, 31425, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bock P, Nousiainen P, Elder T, Blaukopf M, Amer H, Zirbs R, Potthast A, Gierlinger N. Infrared and Raman spectra of lignin substructures: Dibenzodioxocin. JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY : JRS 2020; 51:422-431. [PMID: 32214622 PMCID: PMC7079546 DOI: 10.1002/jrs.5808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Vibrational spectroscopy is a very suitable tool for investigating the plant cell wall in situ with almost no sample preparation. The structural information of all different constituents is contained in a single spectrum. Interpretation therefore heavily relies on reference spectra and understanding of the vibrational behavior of the components under study. For the first time, we show infrared (IR) and Raman spectra of dibenzodioxocin (DBDO), an important lignin substructure. A detailed vibrational assignment of the molecule, based on quantum chemical computations, is given in the Supporting Information; the main results are found in the paper. Furthermore, we show IR and Raman spectra of synthetic guaiacyl lignin (dehydrogenation polymer-G-DHP). Raman spectra of DBDO and G-DHP both differ with respect to the excitation wavelength and therefore reveal different features of the substructure/polymer. This study confirms the idea previously put forward that Raman at 532 nm selectively probes end groups of lignin, whereas Raman at 785 nm and IR seem to represent the majority of lignin substructures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bock
- Institute of BiophysicsUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Thomas Elder
- USDA Forest ServiceSouthern Research StationAuburnAlabama
| | - Markus Blaukopf
- Institute of Organic ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Hassan Amer
- Institute of Chemistry of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of Natural and Microbial Products ChemistryNational Research CentreGizaEgypt
| | - Ronald Zirbs
- Institute of Biologically Inspired MaterialsUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Antje Potthast
- Institute of Chemistry of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Notburga Gierlinger
- Institute of BiophysicsUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li X, Sha J, Xia Y, Sheng K, Liu Y, He Y. Quantitative visualization of subcellular lignocellulose revealing the mechanism of alkali pretreatment to promote methane production of rice straw. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2020; 13:8. [PMID: 31988660 PMCID: PMC6966900 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-1648-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a renewable carbon source, biomass energy not only helps in resolving the management problems of lignocellulosic wastes, but also helps to alleviate the global climate change by controlling environmental pollution raised by their generation on a large scale. However, the bottleneck problem of extensive production of biofuels lies in the filamentous crystal structure of cellulose and the embedded connection with lignin in biomass that leads to poor accessibility, weak degradation and digestion by microorganisms. Some pretreatment methods have shown significant improvement of methane yield and production rate, but the promotion mechanism has not been thoroughly studied. Revealing the temporal and spatial effects of pretreatment on lignocellulose will greatly help deepen our understanding of the optimization mechanism of pretreatment, and promote efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Here, we propose an approach for qualitative, quantitative, and location analysis of subcellular lignocellulosic changes induced by alkali treatment based on label-free Raman microspectroscopy combined with chemometrics. RESULTS Firstly, the variations of rice straw induced by alkali treatment were characterized by the Raman spectra, and the Raman fingerprint characteristics for classification of rice straw were captured. Then, a label-free Raman chemical imaging strategy was executed to obtain subcellular distribution of the lignocellulose, in the strategy a serious interference of plant tissues' fluorescence background was effectively removed. Finally, the effects of alkali pretreatment on the subcellular spatial distribution of lignocellulose in different types of cells were discovered. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated the mechanism of alkali treatment that promotes methane production in rice straw through anaerobic digestion by means of a systemic study of the evidence from the macroscopic measurement and Raman microscopic quantitative and localization two-angle views. Raman chemical imaging combined with chemometrics could nondestructively realize qualitative, quantitative, and location analysis of the lignocellulose of rice straw at a subcellular level in a label-free way, which was beneficial to optimize pretreatment for the improvement of biomass conversion efficiency and promote extensive utilization of biofuel.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Li
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| | - Junjing Sha
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| | - Yihua Xia
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| | - Kuichuan Sheng
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| | - Yufei Liu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| | - Yong He
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058 China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Integration of renewable deep eutectic solvents with engineered biomass to achieve a closed-loop biorefinery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13816-13824. [PMID: 31235605 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1904636116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the enormous potential shown by recent biorefineries, the current bioeconomy still encounters multifaceted challenges. To develop a sustainable biorefinery in the future, multidisciplinary research will be essential to tackle technical difficulties. Herein, we leveraged a known plant genetic engineering approach that results in aldehyde-rich lignin via down-regulation of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and disruption of monolignol biosynthesis. We also report on renewable deep eutectic solvents (DESs) synthesized from phenolic aldehydes that can be obtained from CAD mutant biomass. The transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana CAD mutant was pretreated with the DESs and showed a twofold increase in the yield of fermentable sugars compared with wild type (WT) upon enzymatic saccharification. Integrated use of low-recalcitrance engineered biomass, characterized by its aldehyde-type lignin subunits, in combination with a DES-based pretreatment, was found to be an effective approach for producing a high yield of sugars typically used for cellulosic biofuels and biobased chemicals. This study demonstrates that integration of renewable DES with plant genetic engineering is a promising strategy in developing a closed-loop process.
Collapse
|
7
|
Agarwal UP. Analysis of Cellulose and Lignocellulose Materials by Raman Spectroscopy: A Review of the Current Status. Molecules 2019; 24:E1659. [PMID: 31035593 PMCID: PMC6539102 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24091659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This review is a summary of the Raman spectroscopy applications made over the last 10 years in the field of cellulose and lignocellulose materials. This paper functions as a status report on the kinds of information that can be generated by applying Raman spectroscopy. The information in the review is taken from the published papers and author's own research-most of which is in print. Although, at the molecular level, focus of the investigations has been on cellulose and lignin, hemicelluloses have also received some attention. The progress over the last decade in applying Raman spectroscopy is a direct consequence of the technical advances in the field of Raman spectroscopy, in particular, the application of new Raman techniques (e.g., Raman imaging and coherent anti-Stokes Raman or CARS), novel ways of spectral analysis, and quantum chemical calculations. On the basis of this analysis, it is clear that Raman spectroscopy continues to play an important role in the field of cellulose and lignocellulose research across a wide range of areas and applications, and thereby provides useful information at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umesh P Agarwal
- USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI 53726, USA.
| |
Collapse
|