Insights into the interactions between cellulose and biological molecules

Understanding the interactions between carbohydrate polymer molecules and biomolecules is of primary significance for its application. In this paper, the interaction between cellulose and biomolecules was studied using density functional theory method, in which cellobiose, nucleobases, and aromatic amino acids were employed as the structural models of cellulose, DNA, and protein, respectively. Quantitative molecular surface electrostatic potential (ESP) results well represented how cellulose perceived by organism during the recognition. The structural and energetic studies of cellulose with biomolecules complexes show that weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonding interaction, vdW interaction, and pi-H interaction, play an important role in stabilizing these complexes. Through systematic wavefunction analysis, including reduced density gradient (RDG) and natural bond orbital (NBO) methods, the nature of these weak interactions was revealed and further graphically visualized. In-depth understanding of the interaction between cellobiose with biological model molecules may shed lights on the application of carbohydrate polymer-based materials in biological fields.

Monolithic cellulose supported metal nanoparticles as green flow reactor with high catalytic efficiency

A highly effective, stable and reusable flow microreactor was developed by utilizing the environmentally sustainable porous monolithic cellulose based on a facile temperature induced phase separation (TIPS) method. The obtained microreator could be applied to efficiently and continuously catalysing the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol (an important reaction in water treatment) without any post-treatment or regeneration of catalysts. Moreover, the monolith overcame the brittleness of the crystalline cellulose and showed a good mechanical resilience, suggesting a great potential for the practical application in severe environment. Compared with previous reported Pd supported catalytic systems, this microreactor exhibited extremely high catalytic efficiency (turnover frequency, TOF = 4660 h^-1, almost 4 times higher than that of cellulose nanocrystals supported catalyst) and long-term stability. This work provided a new strategy to construct highly effective and reusable metal NPs involved catalytic system by utilizing biodegradable cellulose materials.

Green synthesis of 1-phenyl-1-ortho-xylene ethane in IL and reaction mechanism

In this study, 1-phenyl-1-ortho-xylene ethane (PXE) is synthesized in IL and the catalysts used were AlCl₃ in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM][Br]) or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]).

Reversibility of imido-based ionic liquids: a theoretical and experimental study

Theoretical and experimental methods were used to study the reversibility of a series of imido-based ionic liquids.

Production of liquid hydrocarbon fuels with 3-pentanone and platform molecules derived from lignocellulose

Diesel or jet fuel range C₁₀–C₁₇ branched and cyclic alkanes were produced by reaction of 3-pentanone derived from lactic acid with bio-based aldehydes.

Fine regulation of cellulose dissolution and regeneration by low pressure CO2 in DMSO/organic base: dissolution behavior and mechanism

Exploring cellulose dissolving and regenerating behavior in DMSO/organic base solvent systems with the activation of low pressure CO₂.

Controlled deposition of Pt nanoparticles on Fe3O4@carbon microspheres for efficient oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

We report core/shell structured magnetically recyclable catalysts with a well-defined spherical morphology. Using these as catalysts for the oxidation of HMF, a 100% yield of FDCA could be achieved in just 4 h at 90 °C in water .

Effect of cellulose solubility on the thermal and mechanical properties of regenerated cellulose/graphene nanocomposites based on ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazoliun chloride

A small amount of IRGO sheets can largely decelerate the dissolution of cellulose in AmimCl, and the mechanical properties of the regenerated cellulose/graphene nanocomposites materials can be tuned by the dissolution time.