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Thermo-chemical conversion of cucumber peel waste for biobased energy and chemical production
(2024)
Composite nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of lignin and different polysaccharide (PS) derivatives were prepared. In this synergistic approach, the PS derivative acts as biocompatible matrix that forms spherical NPs while lignin is a functional compound with therapeutic potential (e.g., antioxidative, antimicrobial, antiviral). Organosolv lignin and three different PS derivatives (cellulose acetate/CA, cellulose acetate phthalate/CAPh, xylan phenyl carbonate/XPC) were used in this study. Nanocomposites with particle sizes in the range of about 200–550 nm containing both types of biopolymers are accessible by dialysis of organic PS/lignin solutions against water. In particular, XPC and CAPh, which both contain aromatic substituents, were found to be suitable for incorporation of lignin within the PS nanomatrix. The present work paves the way for future studies in which the pharmaceutical potential and biocompatibility of composite NPs of lignin and PS derivatives with tailored properties are investigated.
Nanomedicine strategies were first adapted and successfully translated to clinical application for diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. These strategies would no doubt benefit unmet diseases needs as in the case of leishmaniasis. The latter causes skin sores in the cutaneous form and affects internal organs in the visceral form. Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) aims at accelerating wound healing, reducing scarring and cosmetic morbidity, preventing parasite transmission and relapse. Unfortunately, available treatments show only suboptimal effectiveness and none of them were designed specifically for this disease condition. Tissue regeneration using nano-based devices coupled with drug delivery are currently being used in clinic to address diabetic wounds. Thus, in this review, we analyse the current treatment options and attempt to critically analyse the use of nanomedicine-based strategies to address CL wounds in view of achieving scarless wound healing, targeting secondary bacterial infection and lowering drug toxicity.
Nitrosamines have been identified as a probable human carcinogen and thus are of high concern in many manufacturing industries and various matrices (for example pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products, workplace air or potable- and wastewater). This study aims to analyse nine nitrosamines relevant in the field of occupational safety using a gas chromatography-drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (GC-DT-IMS) system. To do this, single nitrosamine standards as well as a standard mix, each at 0.1 g/L, were introduced via liquid injection. A GC-DT-IMS method capable of separating the nitrosamine signals according to retention time (first dimension) and drift time (second dimension) in 10 min was developed. The system shows excellent selectivity as each nitrosamine gives two signals pertaining to monomer and dimer in the second dimension. For the first time, reduced ion mobility values for nitrosamines were determined, ranging from 1.18 to 2.03 cm2s−1V−1. The high selectivity of the GC-DT-IMS method could provide a definite advantage for monitoring nitrosamines in different manufacturing industries and consumer products.
The autocatalyzed ethanolic organosolv process is gaining increasing attention for the sulfur-free isolation of lignin, which is subsequently used as a renewable substitute for various fossil-based applications. For the first time, the mechanochemical influence of seven different particle sizes of two different biomasses on the respective organosolv lignin structure is examined. Wine pruning (Pinot Noir) and wine pomace (Accent) are used for organosolv process with particle sizes ranging from 2.0–1.6 mm to less than 0.25 mm. As particle size decreases, the weight-average molecular weight increases, while the total phenol content decreases significantly. Additionally, the distribution of the lignin-typical monolignols and relevant substructures, as determined by two-dimensional heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectra single quantum coherence (HSQC), is observed. The degree of grinding of the biomass has a clear chemical–structural influence on the isolated HG and HGS organosolv lignins. Therefore, it is crucial to understand this influence to apply organosolv lignins in a targeted manner. In the future, particle size specifications in the context of the organosolv process should be expressed in terms of distribution densities rather than in terms of a smaller than specification.
When optimizing the process parameters of the acidic ethanolic organosolv process, the aim is usually to maximize the delignification and/or lignin purity. However, process parameters such as temperature, time, ethanol and catalyst concentration, respectively, can also be used to vary the structural properties of the obtained organosolv lignin, including the molecular weight and the ratio of aliphatic versus phenolic hydroxyl groups, among others. This review particularly focuses on these influencing factors and establishes a trend analysis between the variation of the process parameters and the effect on lignin structure. Especially when larger data sets are available, as for process temperature and time, correlations between the distribution of depolymerization and condensation reactions are found, which allow direct conclusions on the proportion of lignin's structural features, independent of the diversity of the biomass used. The newfound insights gained from this review can be used to tailor organosolv lignins isolated for a specific application.