Optimization of a formic/acetic acid treatment of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) for delignification

Poster (2011)

Lignin is a promising molecule constituting a renewable alternative to some petrochemical industry products. Lignin is an aromatic cross-linked heteropolymer composed of three phenylpropanoids (p ... [more ▼]

Lignin is a promising molecule constituting a renewable alternative to some petrochemical industry products. Lignin is an aromatic cross-linked heteropolymer composed of three phenylpropanoids (p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl and syringyl units) linked together via radical coupling reactions by specific ether or carbon-carbon bonds. With this phenylpropanoid structure, lignin is a rich resource of biobased products that could find high-valued applications in a lot of different areas like petrochemical polymer reinforcement and replacement, antioxidants, stabilizers, resins and vanillin production... The first challenge of the valorization of lignins is their extraction from raw materials. Lignins can be found in different lignocellulosic substrates like grasses, softwood and hardwood. This extraction process needs the development of suitable biomass treatments, allowing efficient lignin recuperation without degradation. This one could lead to the loss of some interesting properties and so of some valorization possibilities. In this study, beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) was collected in the region of Gaume (Belgium). Beech wood particles were delignified at atmospheric pressure by a mixture of formic acid/acetic acid/water. A central composite design and response surface methodology were used for the optimization of treatment parameters for delignification. The optima of two independent variables, namely time (1h30, 3h, 4h30) and temperature (87°C, 97°C, 107°C), were determined on delignification yield, pulp yield, concentration of degradation products (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural). Moreover, the impact of these two variables on the amount of residual linkages between phenylpropanoid units was evaluated by semi-quantitative bidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR-HSQC). Our results highlight that the delignification yields increase when cooking time and temperature are elevated. Nevertheless, under these conditions, pulp yield decreases as hydrolysis of hemicelluloses and cellulose occurs. The hydrolysates of carbohydrates (free sugars or oligosaccharides) are contained in the black liquor. At elevated temperature and time, the amount of degradation products in the black liquor is increased. [less ▲]

Influence of steam explosion and thermal degradation of cellulose

Poster (2010, August 20)

The aim of the present work is to compare the effect of different steam explosion pretreatments on the thermal degradation of a bleached cellulose where components like hemicelluloses and lignin have ... [more ▼]

The aim of the present work is to compare the effect of different steam explosion pretreatments on the thermal degradation of a bleached cellulose where components like hemicelluloses and lignin have already been removed by acid and alkaline treatments. The results of this study show that thermal degradation of cellulose fibres, studied by TGA, is still limited for a temperature process below 240 °C. However, derivative TGA show that thermal stability of cellulose obtained by these conditions decreases with the increase of temperature. For temperatures above 250°C, char level is higher at the end of the pyrolysis. According to the literature, the increase of the char level is correlated to an increase of the degradation product1. Determination of the degradation products in the liquor obtained after the pretreatment show an important increase of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural concentration with the temperature in agreement with the increase of the char level. These results confirm the important degradation of the cellulose fibres. [less ▲]

Pretreatments and enzymatic hydrolysis of Miscanthus x giganteus for oligosaccharides production: delignification degree and characterisation of the hydrolysis products

Poster (2010, February 04)

The aim of the present study is to compare two delignification methods (formic/acetic acid1 and soaking in aqueous ammonia) on Miscanthus x giganteus and to assess the suitability to produce cellobiose ... [more ▼]

The aim of the present study is to compare two delignification methods (formic/acetic acid1 and soaking in aqueous ammonia) on Miscanthus x giganteus and to assess the suitability to produce cellobiose and other oligosaccharides after enzymatic hydrolysis. Oligosaccharides have recently gotten attention for their health benefits. Two methods were compared in order to quantify lignin: the acid detergent lignin method (procedure of Van Soest most commonly employed by animal scientist and agronomists for analysis of forages) and the Klason lignin procedure. Lignin concentrations in raw material determined by both methods were different; Klason lignin value (23.5%) was greater than the acid detergent lignin concentration (12.9%). Possible reasons of these results will be discussed. Pretreatment by the formic/acid mixture showed a better deliginification rate compared to the soaking in aqueous ammonia method. Results were based on Klason lignin. Analysis of the structural carbohydrates revealed that untreated miscanthus was mainly composed of glucose and xylose. Extracted pulps by both delignification methods were hydrolysed by commercial cellulases and hemicellulases. A major challenge is the characterisation of complex mixtures of lignocellulosic hydrolysates. In this study, the hydrolysis products were separated and quantified by highperformance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAECPAD). This method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of monosaccharides (glucose and xylose) and disaccharides (cellobiose and xylobiose) formed by the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated miscanthus. The influence of the pretreatments on the oligosaccharides yields will be presented. [less ▲]

Milk fat globule membrane and buttermilks: from composition to valorization

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2010), 14(3), 485-500

Buttermilk, the by-product from butter manufacture, is low cost and available in large quantities but has been considered for many years as invaluable. However, over the last two decades it has gained ... [more ▼]

Buttermilk, the by-product from butter manufacture, is low cost and available in large quantities but has been considered for many years as invaluable. However, over the last two decades it has gained considerable attention due to its specific composition in proteins and polar lipids from the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). The aim of this review is to take stock of current buttermilk knowledge. Firstly, the milk fat globule membrane composition and structure are described. Secondly, buttermilk and its associated products are defined according to the milk fat making process. Structure and mean composition of these products are summarized from recent dairy research data and related to technological properties, especially the emulsifying properties provided by MFGM components. Finally, new applications are presented, leading to promising valorizations of buttermilk and its derivate products. [less ▲]

A multistage process to enhance cellobiose production from cellulosic materials

in Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2010), 160(8), 2300-2307

Aspects pratiques relevant d’études sur celluloses modèles

Conference (2009, October 21)

Propriétés technofonctionnelles de la membrane du globule gras du lait dans les crèmes recombinées.

Poster (2008, January 23)

Proteome analysis of the bovine milk fat globule: Enhancement of membrane purification

in International Dairy Journal (2008), 18(9), 885-893

A simple and rapid procedure was cl developed for the extraction of the milk fat globule membrane from milk removes the large majority of the skim milk proteins for proteome analysis. In order to improve ... [more ▼]

A simple and rapid procedure was cl developed for the extraction of the milk fat globule membrane from milk removes the large majority of the skim milk proteins for proteome analysis. In order to improve the extraction and the solubilization of the hydrophobic membrane proteins for subsequent two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, four detergents (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammoniol-1-propanesulfonate, amidosulfobetaine-14, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium deoxycholate) were tested in the sample preparation, associated with a sonication step. Zwitterionic detergents were shown to be efficient in recovering integral and peripheral proteins from membrane material. Spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF). The advantages of MALDI-TOF/TOF (speed, easiness of analysis, good sensitivity and high mass accuracy) were demonstrated on the milk fat globule membrane proteome investigation. Identified proteins are implicated in a wide range of functions including fat secretion and transport, protein trafficking and regulation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Rheological properties of microfluidized oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by dairy components.

Poster (2007, October 11)

Proteome analysis of the bovine milk fat globule : enhancement in the membrane purification.

Poster (2007, October 11)