Sciadopitys verticillata Resin: Volatile Components and Impact on Plant Pathogenic and Foodborne Bacteria.

Sciadopitys verticillata (Sv) produces a white, sticky, latex-like resin with antimicrobial properties. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effects of this resin (Sv resin) on bacterial populations and to determine the impact of its primary volatile components on bioactivity. The impact of sample treatment on chemical composition of Sv resin was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with principal component analysis. The presence and concentration of volatiles in lyophilized resin were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Changes in bacterial population counts due to treatment with resin or its primary volatile components were monitored. Autoclaving of the samples did not affect the FTIR spectra of Sv resin; however, lyophilization altered spectra, mainly in the CH and C=O regions. Three primary bioactive compounds that constituted >90% of volatiles (1R-α-pinene, tricyclene, and ß-pinene) were identified in Sv resin. Autoclaved resin impacted bacterial growth. The resin was stimulatory for some plant and foodborne pathogens (Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae, and Xanthomonas perforans) and antimicrobial for others (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Erwinia amylovora). Treatment with either 1R-α-pinene or ß-pinene reduced B. cereus population growth less than did autoclaved resin. The complex resin likely contains additional antimicrobial compounds that act synergistically to inhibit bacterial growth.

Improving Processing and Performance of Pure Lignin Carbon Fibers through Hardwood and Herbaceous Lignin Blends.

Lignin/lignin blends were used to improve fiber spinning, stabilization rates, and properties of lignin-based carbon fibers. Organosolv lignin from Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) were used as blends for making lignin-based carbon fibers. Different ratios of yellow poplar:switchgrass lignin blends were prepared (50:50, 75:25, and 85:15 w/w). Chemical composition and thermal properties of lignin samples were determined. Thermal properties of lignins were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal analysis confirmed switchgrass and yellow poplar lignin form miscible blends, as a single glass transition was observed. Lignin fibers were produced via melt-spinning by twin-screw extrusion. Lignin fibers were thermostabilized at different rates and subsequently carbonized. Spinnability of switchgrass lignin markedly improved by blending with yellow poplar lignin. On the other hand, switchgrass lignin significantly improved thermostabilization performance of yellow poplar fibers, preventing fusion of fibers during fast stabilization and improving mechanical properties of fibers. These results suggest a route towards a 100% renewable carbon fiber with significant decrease in production time and improved mechanical performance.

Enantioselective Syntheses of Lignin Models: An Efficient Synthesis of ß-O-4 Dimers and Trimers by Using the Evans Chiral Auxiliary.

We describe an efficient five-step, enantioselective synthesis of (R,R)- and (S,S)-lignin dimer models possessing a ß-O-4 linkage, by using the Evans chiral aldol reaction as a key step. Mitsunobu inversion of the (R,R)- or (S,S)-isomers generates the corresponding (R,S)- and (S,R)-diastereomers. We further extend this approach to the enantioselective synthesis of a lignin trimer model. These lignin models are synthesized with excellent ee (>99 %) and high overall yields. The lignin dimer models can be scaled up to provide multigram quantities that are not attainable by using previous methodologies. These lignin models will be useful in degradation studies probing the selectivity of enzymatic, microbial, and chemical processes that deconstruct lignin.

The effect of solvent composition on grafting gallic acid onto chitosan via carbodiimide.

The primary antioxidant (AOX) activity of chitosan can be introduced by grafting of phenolic compound - gallic acid (GA) to its amino and/or hydroxyl groups. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol (EtOH) concentration (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% in water) on efficiency of grafting GA onto chitosan in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The grafting was confirmed by FTIR and the efficiency was quantified as Folin's total phenolics. When pure deionized water was used as a sole solvent (0% EtOH), GA was grafted to chitosan at the largest extent (285.9mg GA/g chitosan). As the concentration of EtOH increased, the grafting efficiency proportionally decreased. NMR studies showed that EtOH inhibited grafting of GA by prohibiting the production of the intermediate - NHS ester. The results confirm that the concentration of EtOH in grafting solution significantly affects grafting efficiency of GA on chitosan.

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure lignin dimer models for catalytic selectivity studies.

A series of highly enantioselective transformations, such as the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, were utilized to achieve the complete stereoselective synthesis of ß-O-4 lignin dimer models containing the S, G, and H subunits with excellent ee (>99%) and moderate to high yields. This unprecedented synthetic method can be exploited for enzymatic, microbial, and chemical investigations into lignin's degradation and depolymerization as related to its stereochemical constitution. Preliminary degradation studies using enantiopure Co(salen) catalysts are also reported.

Predicting enzyme adsorption to lignin films by calculating enzyme surface hydrophobicity.

The inhibitory action of lignin on cellulase cocktails is a major challenge to the biological saccharification of plant cell wall polysaccharides. Although the mechanism remains unclear, hydrophobic interactions between enzymes and lignin are hypothesized to drive adsorption. Here we evaluate the role of hydrophobic interactions in enzyme-lignin binding. The hydrophobicity of the enzyme surface was quantified using an estimation of the clustering of nonpolar atoms, identifying potential interaction sites. The adsorption of enzymes to lignin surfaces, measured using the quartz crystal microbalance, correlates to the hydrophobic cluster scores. Further, these results suggest a minimum hydrophobic cluster size for a protein to preferentially adsorb to lignin. The impact of electrostatic contribution was ruled out by comparing the isoelectric point (pI) values to the adsorption of proteins to lignin surfaces. These results demonstrate the ability to predict enzyme-lignin adsorption and could potentially be used to design improved cellulase cocktails, thus lowering the overall cost of biofuel production.

Approaches to the selective catalytic conversion of lignin: a grand challenge for biorefinery development.

Lignin comprises 15-25% of terrestrial biomass and is the second most abundant source of renewable carbon after cellulose. However, its structural heterogeneity frustrates efforts for its selective conversion into biobased chemicals. Catalyst design for lignin transformation offers an opportunity to improve selectivity, and, hence, improve lignin's utility as a raw material in chemical production. Catalytic deconstruction and conversion of lignin has been examined using a variety of thermochemical treatments, analogous to those used in the petrochemical industry. However, the complex nature of these products limits their utility. More recently, greater focus has been given to an understanding of lignin's molecular level structure, and designing catalysts that can be targeted to key individual structural units within the biopolymer. This review gives a sense of the field by providing a representative description of recent developments in some of the primary technologies employed for lignin conversion and approaches that promise to improve selectivity.

Efficient cobalt-catalyzed oxidative conversion of lignin models to benzoquinones.

Phenolic lignin model monomers and dimers representing the primary substructural units of lignin were successfully oxidized to benzoquinones in high yield with molecular oxygen using new Co-Schiff base catalysts bearing a bulky heterocyclic nitrogen base as a substituent. This is the first example of a catalytic system able to convert both S and G lignin model phenols in high yield, a process necessary for effective use of lignin as a chemical feedstock.

The effect of axial ligand on the oxidation of syringyl alcohol by Co(salen) adducts.

Experimental work on the oxidation of the lignin model, syringyl alcohol, using oxygen and a Co(salen) catalyst has revealed variations in yield with different imidazole-based axial ligands. A reasonable linear relationship was found between product yield and pKa of the axial ligand. The current work, using density functional calculations, examined geometric, electronic, and energetic parameters to determine if additional quantitative relationships can be identified and used in subsequent catalyst design. Good relationships with yield were identified with the geometry of the salen ligand and the charge on the ligand nitrogen coordinated to the cobalt.

High-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution multiple stage tandem mass spectrometry using negative-ion-mode hydroxide-doped electrospray ionization for the characterization of lignin degradation products.

In the search for a replacement for fossil fuel and the valuable chemicals currently obtained from crude oil, lignocellulosic biomass has become a promising candidate as an alternative biorenewable source for crude oil. Hence, many research efforts focus on the extraction, degradation, and catalytic transformation of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. Unfortunately, these processes result in the production of very complex mixtures. Further, while methods have been developed for the analysis of mixtures of oligosaccharides, this is not true for the complex mixtures generated upon degradation of lignin. For example, high-performance liquid chromatography/multiple stage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS(n)), a tool proven to be invaluable in the analysis of complex mixtures derived from many other biopolymers, such as proteins and DNA, has not been implemented for lignin degradation products. In this study, we have developed an HPLC separation method for lignin degradation products that is amenable to negative-ion-mode electrospray ionization (ESI doped with NaOH), the best method identified thus far for ionization of lignin-related model compounds without fragmentation. The separated and ionized compounds are then analyzed by MS(3) experiments to obtain detailed structural information while simultaneously performing high-resolution measurements to determine their elemental compositions in the two parts of a commercial linear quadrupole ion trap/Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. A lignin degradation product mixture was analyzed using this method, and molecular structures were proposed for some components. This methodology significantly improves the ability to analyze complex product mixtures that result from degraded lignin.

A comparative review of petroleum-based and bio-based acrolein production.

Acrolein is an important chemical intermediate for many common industrial chemicals, leading to an array of useful end products. This paper reviews all the synthetic methods, including the former (aldol condensation) and contemporary (partial oxidation of propylene) manufacturing methods, the partial oxidation of propane, and most importantly, the bio-based glycerol-dehydration route. Emphasis is placed on the petroleum-based route from propylene and the bio-based route from glycerol, an abundantly available and relatively inexpensive raw material available from biodiesel production. This review provides technical details and incentives for industrial proyduction that justify a transition toward bio-based acrolein production.

Biomass fractionation for the biorefinery: heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence-nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of lignin isolated from solvent fractionation of switchgrass.

Two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence and quantitative (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are used to identify the structural features of lignin isolated from solvent fractionation of switchgrass at several different severities. The spectra are consistent with a progressive deconstruction of the lignin as the fractionation severity increases, with structural units involved in cross-linking and capping of the bulk lignin polymer removed first, followed by increasing levels of acid-catalyzed, solvolytic cleavage of the bulk lignin. The results show that solvent fractionation conditions between about 120 °C and 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) and 160 °C and 0.025 M H(2)SO(4) are optimal for separating biomass in the biorefinery to give process streams most suitable for biobased fuel and chemical production.

Comparative genome analysis of lignin biosynthesis gene families across the plant kingdom.

BACKGROUND: As a major component of plant cell wall, lignin plays important roles in mechanical support, water transport, and stress responses. As the main cause for the recalcitrance of plant cell wall, lignin modification has been a major task for bioenergy feedstock improvement. The study of the evolution and function of lignin biosynthesis genes thus has two-fold implications. First, the lignin biosynthesis pathway provides an excellent model to study the coordinative evolution of a biochemical pathway in plants. Second, understanding the function and evolution of lignin biosynthesis genes will guide us to develop better strategies for bioenergy feedstock improvement. RESULTS: We analyzed lignin biosynthesis genes from fourteen plant species and one symbiotic fungal species. Comprehensive comparative genome analysis was carried out to study the distribution, relatedness, and family expansion of the lignin biosynthesis genes across the plant kingdom. In addition, we also analyzed the comparative synteny map between rice and sorghum to study the evolution of lignin biosynthesis genes within the Poaceae family and the chromosome evolution between the two species. Comprehensive lignin biosynthesis gene expression analysis was performed in rice, poplar and Arabidopsis. The representative data from rice indicates that different fates of gene duplications exist for lignin biosynthesis genes. In addition, we also carried out the biomass composition analysis of nine Arabidopsis mutants with both MBMS analysis and traditional wet chemistry methods. The results were analyzed together with the genomics analysis. CONCLUSION: The research revealed that, among the species analyzed, the complete lignin biosynthesis pathway first appeared in moss; the pathway is absent in green algae. The expansion of lignin biosynthesis gene families correlates with substrate diversity. In addition, we found that the expansion of the gene families mostly occurred after the divergence of monocots and dicots, with the exception of the C4H gene family. Gene expression analysis revealed different fates of gene duplications, largely confirming plants are tolerant to gene dosage effects. The rapid expansion of lignin biosynthesis genes indicated that the translation of transgenic lignin modification strategies from model species to bioenergy feedstock might only be successful between the closely relevant species within the same family.

Synthesis and self-assembly of glycal-based bolaforms.

Glycal-based bolaforms serve as synthetically flexible components of molecular self-assembly. The compounds are prepared in good yield by a Ferrier reaction between triacetylglucal or -galactal or diacetylxylal and a long chain alpha,omega-diol, followed by deacetylation under Zemplen conditions. The reactions are stereoselective and preferentially afford the alpha-diastereomer. The bolaforms undergo self-assembly in water or water/dioxane solution to give a variety of nanostructures. In solution, bolaforms with C8 or C10 chains between glucal headgroups form nanoscale vesicles. In contrast, bolaforms with C12 chains exhibit lower solubility and a dynamic self-assembly, forming several different nanoscale structures. However, the solid-state structures of C12 bolaform isomers adopt shapes very similar to those of bolaforms possessing more extensive hydrogen-bonding networks, indicating that multiple hydrogen bonds in solution are important to formation of stable, discrete nanostructures but that only a few key intermolecular interactions between bolaform headgroups are necessary to determine the structure in the solid state. The diversity and differentiation of the functional groups present in glycal-based bolaforms suggest that they could be useful probes of the various noncovalent forces controlling the structure of new nanomaterials.

Molecular structures of glycal-based bolaamphiphiles: analysis of crystal packing and hydrogen-bond networks.

The crystal structures for the glycal bolaamphiphiles, 1,12-bis-(2,3-alpha-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranosyloxy)-dodecane (1) and 1,12-bis-(2,3-alpha-D-threo-hex-2-enopyranosyloxy)-dodecane (2), were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure for 1 showed that the alpha:alpha and alpha:beta diastereomers co-crystallized, with occupancy factors determining an isomeric ratio of 69:31. The pyranose rings for both structures are oriented away from each other and adopt a conventional glycal geometry. The head groups are nearly gauche to the hydrophobic chain, which adopts an all-trans zigzag conformation. Bolaamphiphile 1 packs in anti-parallel layers, while bolaamphiphile 2 displays a parallel arrangement of layers. Both structures display a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network involving the hydroxylic substituents on the head groups. The high similarity in large-scale solid state structures between 1 and glucosamide bolaamphiphile 3, and 2 and galactosamide bolaamphiphile 4 suggest a strong dependence on head group stereochemistry, and that only a few, key intermolecular interactions between head groups are necessary in controlling the ultimate structure observed. The solid state results may have implications for understanding the intermolecular forces directing nanoscale self-assembly in solution.