ALBERT

Description: The membrane and solute diffusion properties of Cladophora cellulose and polypyrrole (PPy) functionalized Cladophora cellulose were analyzed to investigate the feasibility of using electroactive membranes in hemodialysis. The membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, ζ-potentiometry, He-pycnometry, N 2 gas adsorption, and Hg porosimetry. The diffusion properties across the studied membranes for three model uremic toxins, i.e. creatinine, vitamin B12 and bovine serum albumin, were also analyzed. The characterization work revealed that the studied membranes present an open structure of weakly negatively charged nanofibers with an average pore size of 21 and 53 nm for pristine cellulose and PPy-Cladophora cellulose, respectively. The results showed that the diffusion of uremic toxins across the PPy-Cladophora cellulose membrane was faster than through pure cellulose membrane, which was related to the higher porosity and larger average pore size of the former. Since it was found that the average pore size of the membranes was larger than the hydrodynamic radius of the studied model solutes, it was concluded that these types of membranes are favorable to expand the Mw spectrum of uremic toxins to also include conditions associated with accumulation of large pathologic proteins during hemodialysis. The large average pore size of the composite membrane could also be exploited to ensure high-fluxes of solutes through the membrane while simultaneously extracting ions by an externally applied electric current.

Description: Inspired by the surface structure of lotus leaves, different types of superhydrophobic cellulosic materials with contact angle (CA) of higher than 150° are currently provided. However, fabrication of these surfaces in a facile one-step coating process is one of the challenging issues. This paper describes a facile method to sonochemically synthesize superhydrophobic organic–inorganic hybrid coatings on cotton fabric by an alkaline-catalyzed co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate and alkyltrialkoxysilanes. The influence of alkyl chain length (methyl, octyl, hexadecyl) of silane and reaction time was investigated. Surface structure of the fabrics was investigated by SEM, EDS, FTIR spectroscopies, and reflectance spectrophotometry. Wettability properties were studied by measuring water CA, shedding angle (SHA) and resistance to wetting by a series of ethanol–water mixtures of different surface tensions. The results showed that the treated fabrics were coated with a homogeneous thin nano-scaled coating of hybrid silica nano-particles. The fabrics demonstrated CA of higher than 150°, SHA in the range of 6–24° and different stickiness to water droplets. The fabrics treated by silanes with longer alkyl chain length and at higher reaction time revealed better water repellency. The coatings were nearly transparent, could not affect the color of the fabrics and had high stability against repeated washing. In addition, mechanical properties of the fabrics were not substantially affected.

Description: Composites of cellulose acetate and polysiloxane were prepared using 3-isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane, as a coupling agent. The structure, the thermal and dynamic-mechanical behaviors, and the morphology of the obtained composites were investigated. The composites showed phase separation which was confirmed by the presence of siloxane micro- and nano-domains dispersed in the cellulose acetate matrix, with good interfacial adhesion between the phases. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of a polysiloxane phase on a cellulose acetate matrix caused a decrease in the glass transition temperature, storage modulus and hardness. The proposed methodology was seen to be convenient for the preparation of cellulose acetate/polysiloxane composites with useful properties.

Description: The effect of surface hydrophobicity and side-chain variation on xyloglucan adsorption onto cellulose microfibrils (CMF) is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. A molecular model of CMF with (100), (010), (1–10), (110) and (200) crystal faces was built. We considered xylogluco-oligosaccharides (XGO) with three repeating units, namely (XXXG) 3, (XXLG) 3 , and (XXFG) 3 (where each (1,4)-β- d -glucosyl residue in the backbone is given a one-letter code according to its substituents: G = β- d -Glc; X = α- d -Xyl-(1,6)-β- d -Glc; L = β- d -Gal-(1,2)-α- d -Xyl-(1,6)-β- d -Glc; F = α- l -Fuc-(1,2)-β- d -Gal-(1,2)-α- d -Xyl-(1,6)-β- d -Glc). Our work shows that (XXXG) 3 binds more favorably to the CMF (100) and (200) hydrophobic surfaces than to the (110), (010) and (1–10) hydrophilic surfaces. The origin of this behavior is attributed to the topography of hydrophobic CMF surface, which stabilizes (XXXG) 3 in flat conformation. In contrast, on the rough hydrophilic CMF surface (XXXG) 3 adopts a less favorable random-coil conformation to facilitate more hydrogen bonds with the surface. Extending the xyloglucan side chains from (XXXG) 3 to (XXLG) 3 hinders their stacking on the CMF hydrophobic surface. For (XXFG) 3 , the interaction with the hydrophobic surface is as strong as (XXXG) 3 . All three XGOs have similar binding to the hydrophilic surface. Steered molecular dynamics simulation was performed on an adhesive model where (XXXG) 3 was sandwiched between two CMF hydrophobic surfaces. Our analysis suggests that this sandwich structure might help provide mechanical strength for plant cell walls. Our study relates to a recently revised model of primary cell walls in which extensibility is largely determined by xyloglucan located in limited regions of tight contact between CMFs.

Description: The aims of the present study were to prepare hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC)-based porous matrix tablets for gastroretentive drug delivery and to characterize their physicochemical properties. Gabapentin (GBP) was used as a model drug. Paste containing GBP, HPMC and water was molded and freeze-dried to prepare freeze-dried gastroretentive matrix tablet (FD-GRT). In vitro drug release and erosion studies were also performed. Although FD-GRT exhibited porous structure, they had good tablet strength and friability. Density of FD-GRT ranged from 0.402 to 0.509 g/cm 3 and thus they could float on the medium surface without any lag time. FD-GRT was remained floated until the entire matrix erosion or end of drug release during in vitro release test. Release behavior of GBP could be modulated by the amount and the viscosity grade of HPMC. However, large amount and high viscosity of HPMC caused trouble in molding prior to freeze-drying. Addition of ethylcellulose could retard the release rate of GBP, with relatively low increase in viscosity of paste. Since pores generated by freeze drying imparted buoyancy for gastric retention to FD-GRT, additional materials for buoyancy was not necessary and FD-GRT had no lag time for buoyancy due to low density. Therefore it could be a promising tool for gastroretentive drug delivery.

Description: Introductory material first describes electron density approaches and demonstrates visualization of electron lone pairs and bonding as concentrations of electron density. Then it focuses on the application of Bader’s Quantum Theory of Atoms-in-Molecules (AIM) to cellulose models. The purpose of the work is to identify the various interactions that stabilize cellulose structure. AIM analysis aids study of non-covalent interactions, especially those for which geometric criteria are not well established. The models were in the form of pairs of cellotriose molecules, methylated at the O1 and O4 ends. Based on the unit cell of cellulose Iβ, there were corner–corner, and center–center pairs that correspond to (200) sheets, and corner–center pairings that corresponded to (1–10) and (110) stacks. AIM analysis (or charge-density topology analysis) was applied before and after minimization in vacuum and in continuum solvation. Besides the conventional O–H···O hydrogen bonds, all of which were known from geometric criteria, C–H···O hydrogen bonds (some previously reported), and some O···O and H···H interactions were found. Non-covalent bonds in the (200) sheets were maintained in all calculations with the exception of a weak, bifurcated O6–H···O2′′ bond that was not found in the corner–corner pair model and did not survive minimization. Nor did the O6···O4 interactions on the reducing ends of the triosides. Pairs of molecules along the (110) plane had an equal number (12) of non-covalent bonds compared to the pairs along the (1–10) plane, but the AIM parameters indicated the bonds between the pairs in the (110) plane were weaker. Intra-molecular O–H···O hydrogen bonds survived in these minimized pairs, but the relative chain alignments usually did not.

Description: A major by-product of biodiesel production is waste glycerol, which has numerous potential applications. In this study, we isolated a novel bacterium capable of producing cellulose from waste glycerol, and identified it as a novel strain (named NEDO-01) of Gluconacetobacter intermedius . Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of the pellicle produced by NEDO-01 was similar to that of cellulose produced by Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC23769. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses suggested that cellulose produced by NEDO-01 had molecular and crystalline structures similar to those of cellulose produced by ATCC23769. After the optimization of cultivation conditions, NEDO-01 mediated the one-step production of nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) from waste glycerol in a medium supplemented with carboxymethyl cellulose. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed that the NFBC was composed of relatively uniform fibers with diameters of approximately 20 nm. NFBC was produced as uniform water suspensions, the yield of which was 3.4 g/L from cultivation in 7.5 L medium in a 10-L jar fermenter. The bioconversion of waste glycerol to NFBC, which has superior fluidity, moldability, and miscibility, has a wide variety of applications, including potential uses in the medical and materials engineering fields.

Description: Quaternary ammonium salts and N -halamines are widely used as biocides in antimicrobial coatings, and have been extensively studied over the past two decades. In this work, 5,5-dimethyl-3-(3′-triethoxysilylpropyl)hydantoin (SPH), and 3-(trimethoxysilylpropyl) octadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (SPODA) were synthesized and coated onto cotton fibers using a pad-dry process (PD) and the traditional pad-dry-cure process (PDC). The coated cotton swatches were characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The quaternary ammonium salt showed a relatively lower inactivating bacteria efficacy than did the N -halamine compounds. The chlorinated swatches coated with both SPH and SPODA using the PD process could inactivate about 7 logs of the Staphylococci aureus within 5–10 min and 7 logs of Escherichia coli O157:H7 within 10–30 min, respectively. The addition of quats in N -halamine coatings improved antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria E. coli O157:H7. However, this result was not observed when the PDC process was applied in coatings because of the increasing hydrophobicity of the coated samples under high coating temperature.

Description: Fiber properties (fiber swelling ability, crystal structure of cellulose, fiber surface morphology, and etc.) of eucalyptus kraft pulp with different contents of carboxyl group in Na-form were studied. There was a direct proportional relationship between water retention value and carboxyl content of pulp. When the carboxyl content increased from 35.6 to 315.7 mmol/kg, tensile index and burst index increased by 56.1 and 117.8 %, respectively, and crystallinity of cellulose decreased by 11.8 %. Environmental scanning electron microscope showed that more fibrillation was observed on the carboxymethylated fiber surface, compared with the control sample. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis suggested that the relative intensity of the band at 1,633/cm was increased after carboxymethylation treatment, which showed that the carboxyl content increased. The increase in the carboxyl content not only could increase the fiber strength properties, but also could increase the recycling times of the fiber.

Description: This paper demonstrates a way to utilize the rheological properties of high consistency microfibrillated and nanofibrillated cellulose (MFC and NFC) based furnishes for improved dewatering. This is relevant to a new manufacturing platform that is being developed to form composite webs from suitable mixtures of MFC or NFC, traditional pulp fibres and pigments. The studied furnishes were evaluated in the consistencies range of 5–15 % with an MCR 300 rheometer and an immobilization cell. This setup enables us to characterize the rheology of the samples before and during the dewatering process. Classical rheological methods are used to characterise MFC and NFC furnishes. Yield stress as an indicator of the flocculated network strength was found to increase with the consistencies, following the increase in elastic moduli, which indicated a gel-like strongly flocculated matrix. The shear thinning properties of furnishes are observed to follow the Oswald’s rheological model on a wide range of shear rates. It was found that when the MFC and NFC furnishes were dewatered under vacuum conditions, the final solids content was increased with application of shear. This behaviour is more pronounced for furnishes which contained the more swollen NFC (higher WRV, i.e. higher zeta potential). This effect is further exemplified by the change of the complex and dynamic viscosities during the dewatering. The shear rate, the fibre content, and the furnish consistencies were also found to influence the dewatering rate.

Description: Cotton fabrics with antibacterial properties were prepared by the treatment with 3,3′4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPTCD) in a combined process of shaking immersion in dyeing machine and pad-dry-cure. Environmentally-benign choline chloride (ChCl)-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were mainly examined as treatment media instead of using organic solvent. The results revealed that cotton fabrics treated with BPTCD in urea-ChCl DES showed a strong ester carbonyl peak in fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, indicating fixation of BPTCD on cotton cellulose. Detailed characterizations of the BPTCD-treated cotton were carried out by FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, dye staining, and evaluation of hydrophilicity and strength. The treated fabrics demonstrated a high level of antibacterial characteristics before and after UV irradiation. This indicated that addition of ChCl could enhance antibacterial activity of cotton before UV irradiation. Therefore, use of ChCl-based DES along with BPTCD incorporation provided environmentally-acceptable and economically-feasible treatment process for preparation of novel antibacterial cotton.

Description: Rod-like cellulose nanowhiskers and spherical cellulose nanoparticles were prepared from wood-pulp-derived cellulose powder by mechanical refining processes such as high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and ball-milling (BM). The nanowhiskers obtained by the HPH method were found to be 200–500 nm long and 11–16 nm wide. The diameters of the nanoparticles were in the range 40–200 nm, depending on the BM time, and were reduced to 25–50 nm after extra HPH. By adjusting the BM time, cellulose nanoparticles having different polymorphs with similar morphologies were prepared. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the recrystallization of cellulose I (1 h of BM time) or cellulose II (4–8 h of BM time) in ball-milled nanoparticles after water washing and solvent exchange treatments. The nanowhisker widths derived from the specific surface areas (SSA) by adsorption methods such as Congo red dye, nitrogen, and water vapor, sorptions were in agreement with those obtained from transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images. Similar SSA values were obtained for micro- and nano-scale cellulose materials using water vapor adsorption methods, and the SSAs of nanoparticles obtained by different adsorption methods are also discussed.

Description: Assessing in situ microbial abilities of soils to degrade pesticides is of great interest giving insight in soil filtering capability, which is a key ecosystem function limiting pollution of groundwater. Quantification of pesticide-degrading gene expression by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was tested as a suitable indicator to monitor pesticide biodegradation performances in soil. RNA extraction protocol was optimized to enhance the yield and quality of RNA recovered from soil samples to perform RT-qPCR assays. As a model, the activity of atrazine-degrading communities was monitored using RT-qPCRs to estimate the level of expression of atzD in five agricultural soils showing different atrazine mineralization abilities. Interestingly, the relative abundance of atzD mRNA copy numbers was positively correlated to the maximum rate and to the maximal amount of atrazine mineralized. Our findings indicate that the quantification of pesticide-degrading gene expression may be suitable to assess biodegradation performance in soil and monitor natural attenuation of pesticide.

Description: This unique study describes how Aspergillus japonicus , Penicillium brocae and Purpureocillium lilacinum , three novel isolates of our laboratory from heavily plastics-contaminated soil completely utilized the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) bound to PVC blood storage bags (BB) in simple basal salt medium (BSM) by static submerged growth (28 °C). Initial quantification as well as percentage utilization of DEHP blended to BB were estimated periodically by extracting it into n -hexane. A two-stage cultivation strategy was employed for the complete mycoremediation of DEHP from BB in situ. During the first growth stage, about two-third parts of total (33.5 % w/w) DEHP bound to BB were utilized in two weeks, accompanied by increased fungal biomass (~0.15–0.32 g per g BB) and sharp declining (to ~3) of initial pH (7.2). At this stagnant growth state (low pH), spent medium was replaced by fresh BSM (pH, 7.2), and thus in the second stage the remaining DEHP (one-third) in BB was utilized completely. The ditches and furrows seen from the topology of the BB as seen by the 3D AFM image further confirmed the bioremediation of DEHP physically bound to BB in situ. Of the three mycelial fungi employed, P. lilacinum independently showed highest efficiency for the complete utilization of DEHP bound to BB, whose activity was comparable to that of the consortium comprising all the three fungi described herein. To sum up, the two-stage cultivation strategy demonstrated in this study shows that a batch process would efficiently remediate the phthalic acid esters blended in plastics on a large scale, and thus it offers potentials for the management of plastics wastes.

Description: A comprehensive study on the effects of different carbon sources during the bacterial enrichment on the removal performances of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds when present as a mixture was conducted. Batch BTEX removal kinetic experiments were performed using cultures enriched with individual BTEX compounds or BTEX as a mixture or benzoate alone or benzoate–BTEX mixture. An integrated Monod-type non-linear model was developed and a ratio between maximum growth rate ( μ max ) and half saturation constant (K s ) was used to fit the non-linear model. A higher μ max /K s indicates a higher affinity to degrade BTEX compounds. Complete removal of BTEX mixture was observed by all the enriched cultures; however, the removal rates for individual compounds varied. Degradation rate and the type of removal kinetics were found to be dependent on the type of carbon source during the enrichment. Cultures enriched on toluene and those enriched on BTEX mixture were found to have the greatest μ max /K s and cultures enriched on benzoate had the least μ max /K s . Removal performances of the cultures enriched on all different carbon sources, including the ones enriched on benzoate or benzoate–BTEX mixture were also improved during a second exposure to BTEX. A molecular analysis showed that after each exposure to the BTEX mixture, the cultures enriched on benzoate and those enriched on benzoate–BTEX mixture had increased similarities to the culture enriched on BTEX mixture.

Description: In this paper, nanofibrillated cellulose/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films were prepared using tape casting. The obtained transparent films showed shear induced partial alignment of fibrils along the casting direction, resulting in birefringence in cross polarized light. The carboxyl groups of CMC could be further utilized to create ionic crosslinking by treatment with glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTMA). The GTMA treated composite films had improved mechanical properties both in wet and dry state. The chemical composition and morphologies of composites were analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy and wide-angle X-ray scattering.

Description: A genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) capable of simultaneously degrading organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides was constructed for the first time by display of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) on the cell surface of a hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading Sphingobium japonicum UT26. The GEM could potentially be used for removing the two classes of pesticides that may be present in mixtures at contaminated sites. A surface anchor system derived from the truncated ice nucleation protein (INPNC) from Pseudomonas syringae was used to target OPH onto the cell surface of UT26, reducing the potential substrate uptake limitation. The surface localization of INPNC–OPH fusion was verified by cell fractionation, western blot, proteinase accessibility, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the functionality of the surface-exposed OPH was demonstrated by OPH activity assays. Surface display of INPNC–OPH fusion (82 kDa) neither inhibited cell growth nor affected cell viability. The engineered UT26 could degrade parathion as well as γ-HCH rapidly in minimal salt medium. The removal of parathion and γ-HCH by engineered UT26 in sterile and non-sterile soil was also studied. In both soil samples, a mixture of parathion (100 mg kg −1 ) and γ-HCH (10 mg kg −1 ) could be degraded completely within 15 days. Soil treatment results indicated that the engineered UT26 is a promising multifunctional bacterium that could be used for the bioremediation of multiple pesticide-contaminated environments.

Description: Stimulation of native microbial populations in soil by the addition of small amounts of secondary carbon sources (cosubstrates) and its effect on the degradation and theoretical mineralization of DDT [l,l,l-trichloro-2,2-bis( p -chlorophenyl)ethane] and its main metabolites, DDD and DDE, were evaluated. Microbial activity in soil polluted with DDT, DDE and DDD was increased by the presence of phenol, hexane and toluene as cosubstrates. The consumption of DDT was increased from 23 % in a control (without cosubstrate) to 67, 59 and 56 % in the presence of phenol, hexane and toluene, respectively. DDE was completely removed in all cases, and DDD removal was enhanced from 67 % in the control to ~86 % with all substrates tested, except for acetic acid and glucose substrates. In the latter cases, DDD removal was either inhibited or unchanged from the control. The optimal amount of added cosubstrate was observed to be between 0.64 and 2.6 mg C $ {\text{g}}^{ - 1}_{\text{dry soil}} $ . The CO 2 produced was higher than the theoretical amount for complete cosubstrate mineralization indicating possible mineralization of DDT and its metabolites. Bacterial communities were evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, which indicated that native soil and the untreated control presented a low bacterial diversity. The detected bacteria were related to soil microorganisms and microorganisms with known biodegradative potential. In the presence of toluene a bacterium related to Azoarcus , a genus that includes species capable of growing at the expense of aromatic compounds such as toluene and halobenzoates under denitrifying conditions, was detected.

Description: Because benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and ethanol are important contaminants present in Brazilian gasoline, it is essential to develop technology that can be used in the bioremediation of gasoline-contaminated aquifers. This paper evaluates the performance of a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass (HAIB) reactor fed with water containing gasoline constituents under denitrifying conditions. Two HAIB reactors filled with polyurethane foam matrices (5 mm cubes, 23 kg/m 3 density and 95 % porosity) for biomass attachment were assayed. The reactor fed with synthetic substrate containing protein, carbohydrates, sodium bicarbonate and BTEX solution in ethanol, at an Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 13.5 h, presented hydrocarbon removal efficiencies of 99 % at the following initial concentrations: benzene 6.7 mg/L, toluene 4.9 mg/L, m -xylene and p -xylene 7.2 mg/L, ethylbenzene 3.7 mg/L, and nitrate 60 mg N/L. The HAIB reactor fed with gasoline-contaminated water at an HRT of 20 h showed hydrocarbon removal efficiencies of 96 % at the following initial concentrations: benzene, 4.9 mg/L; toluene, 7.2 mg/L; m -xylene, 3.7 mg/L; and nitrate 400 mg N/L. Microbiological observations along the length of the HAIB reactor fed with gasoline-contaminated water confirmed that in the first segment of the reactor, denitrifying metabolism predominated, whereas from the first sampling port on, the metabolism observed was predominantly methanogenic.

Description: Burkholderia sp. C3, an efficient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrader, can utilize nine of the ten N -methylcarbamate insecticides including carbaryl as a sole source of carbon. Rapid hydrolysis of carbaryl in C3 is followed by slow catabolism of the resulting 1-naphthol. This study focused on metabolomes and proteomes in C3 cells utilizing carbaryl in comparison to those using glucose or nutrient broth. Sixty of the 867 detected proteins were involved in primary metabolism, adaptive sensing and regulation, transport, stress response, and detoxification. Among the 41 proteins expressed in response to carbaryl were formate dehydrogenase, aldehyde-alcohol dehydrogenase and ethanolamine utilization protein involved in one carbon metabolism. Acetate kinase and phasin were 2 of the 19 proteins that were not detected in carbaryl-supported C3 cells, but detected in glucose-supported C3 cells. Down-production of phasin and polyhydroxyalkanoates in carbaryl-supported C3 cells suggests insufficient carbon sources and lower levels of primary metabolites to maintain an ordinary level of metabolism. Differential metabolomes (~196 identified polar metabolites) showed up-production of metabolites in pentose phosphate pathways and metabolisms of cysteine, cystine and some other amino acids, disaccharides and nicotinate, in contract to down-production of most of the other amino acids and hexoses. The proteomic and metabolomic analyses showed that carbaryl-supported C3 cells experienced strong toxic effects, oxidative stresses, DNA/RNA damages and carbon nutrient deficiency.

Description: Species of the genus Variovorax are often isolated from nitrile or amide-containing organic compound-contaminated soil. However, there have been few biological characterizations of Variovorax and their contaminant-degrading enzymes. Previously, we reported a new soil isolate, Variovorax boronicumulans CGMCC 4969, and its nitrile hydratase that transforms the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid into an amide metabolite. In this study, we showed that CGMCC 4969 is able to degrade acrylamide, a neurotoxicant and carcinogen in animals, during cell growth in a mineral salt medium as well as in its resting state. Resting cells rapidly hydrolyzed 600 mg/L acrylamide to acrylic acid with a half-life of 2.5 min. In in vitro tests, CGMCC 4969 showed plant growth-promoting properties; it produced a siderophore, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and the phytohormone salicylic acid. Interestingly, in soil inoculated with this strain, 200 mg/L acrylamide was completely degraded in 4 days. Gene cloning and overexpression in the Escherichia coli strain Rosetta (DE3) pLysS resulted in the production of an aliphatic amidase of 345 amino acids that hydrolyzed acrylamide into acrylic acid. The amidase contained a conserved catalytic triad, Glu59, Lys 134, and Cys166, and an “MRHGDISSS” amino acid sequence at the N-terminal region. Variovorax boronicumulans CGMCC 4969, which is able to use acrylamide for cell growth and rapidly degrade acrylamide in soil, shows promising plant growth-promoting properties. As such, it has the potential to be developed into an effective Bioaugmentation strategy to promote growth of field crops in acrylamide-contaminated soil.

Description: Organic and metallic pollutants are ubiquitous in the environment. Many metals are reported to be toxic to microorganisms and to inhibit biodegradation. The effect of the metals iron, copper and silver on the metabolism of Labrys portucalensis F11 and on fluorobenzene (FB) biodegradation was examined. The results indicate that the addition of 1 mM of Fe 2+ to the culture medium has a positive effect on bacterial growth and has no impact in the biodegradation of 1 and 2 mM of FB. The presence of 1 mM of Cu 2+ was found to strongly inhibit the growth of F11 cultures and to reduce the biodegradation of 1 and 2 mM of FB to ca. 50 %, with 80 % of stoichiometrically expected fluoride released. In the experiments with resting cells, the FB degraded (from 2 mM supplied) was reduced ca. 20 % whereas the fluoride released was reduced to 45 % of that stoichiometrically expected. Ag + was the most potent inhibitor of FB degradation. In experiments with growing cells, the addition of 1 mM of Ag + to the culture medium containing 1 and 2 mM of FB resulted in no fluoride release, whereas FB degradation was only one third of that observed in control cultures. In the experiments with resting cells, the addition of Ag + resulted in 25 % reduction in substrate degradation and fluoride release was only 20 % of that stoichiometrically expected. The accumulation of catechol and 4-fluorocatechol in cultures supplemented with Cu 2+ or Ag + suggest inhibition of the key enzyme of FB metabolism—catechol 1,2-dioxygenase.

Description: In the present study, the influence of kaolinite and goethite on microbial degradation of methyl parathion was investigated. We observed that the biodegradation process was improved by kaolinite and depressed by goethite. Calorimetric data further showed that the metabolic activities of degrading cells ( Pseudomonas putida ) were enhanced by the presence of kaolinite and depressed by the presence of goethite. A semipermeable membrane experiment was performed and results supported the above observations: the promotive effect of kaolinite and the inhibition of goethite for microbial degradation was not found when the bacteria was enclosed by semipermeable membrane and had no direct contact with these minerals, suggesting the important function of the contact of cellular surfaces with mineral particles. The relative larger particles of kaolinite were loosely attached to the bacteria. This attachment made the cells easy to use the sorbed substrate and then stimulated biodegradation. For goethite, small particles were tightly bound to bacterial cells and limited the acquisition of substrate and nutrients, thereby inhibiting biodegradation. These results indicated that interfacial interaction between bacterial cells and minerals significantly affected the biodegradation of pesticides.

Description: Although 4- tert -butylphenol (4- t -BP) is a serious aquatic pollutant, its biodegradation in aquatic environments has not been well documented. In this study, 4- t -BP was obviously and repeatedly removed from water from four different environments in the presence of Spirodela polyrrhiza , giant duckweed, but 4- t -BP persisted in the environmental waters in the absence of S. polyrrhiza . Also, 4- t -BP was not removed from autoclaved pond water with sterilized S. polyrrhiza . These results suggest that the 4- t -BP removal from the environmental waters was caused by biodegradation stimulated by the presence of S. polyrrhiza rather than by uptake by the plant. Moreover, Sphingobium fuliginis OMI capable of utilizing 4- t -BP as a sole carbon and energy source was isolated from the S. polyrrhiza rhizosphere. Strain OMI degraded 4- t -BP via a meta -cleavage pathway, and also degraded a broad range of alkylphenols with linear or branched alkyl side chains containing two to nine carbon atoms. Root exudates of S. polyrrhiza stimulated 4- t -BP degradation and cell growth of strain OMI. Thus, the stimulating effects of S. polyrrhiza root exudates on 4- t -BP-degrading bacteria might have contributed to 4- t -BP removal in the environmental waters with S. polyrrhiza . These results demonstrate that the S. polyrrhiza –bacteria association may be applicable to the removal of highly persistent 4- t -BP from wastewaters or polluted aquatic environments.

Description: The biodegradation of heptadecane in five sand columns was modeled using a multiplicative Monod approach. Each column contained 1.0 kg of sand and 2 g of heptadecane, and was supplied with an artificial seawater solution containing nutrients at a flow rate that resulted in unsaturated flow through the column. All nutrients were provided in excess with the exception of nitrate whose influent concentration was 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg N/L. The experiment was run around 912 h until no measurable oxygen consumption or CO 2 production was observed. The residual mass of heptadecane was measured at the end of the experiments and the biodegradation was monitored based on oxygen consumption and CO 2 production. Biodegradation kinetic parameters were estimated by fitting the model to experimental data of oxygen, CO 2 , and residual mass of heptadecane obtained from the two columns having influent nitrate–N concentration of 0.5 and 2.5 mg/L. Noting that the oxygen and CO 2 measurements leveled off at around 450 h, we fitted the model to these data for that range. The estimated parameters fell in within the range reported in the literature. In particular, the half-saturation constant for nitrate utilization,  $ K_{\text{N}} $ , was estimated to be 0.45 mg N/L, and the yield coefficient was found to be 0.15 mg biomass/mg heptadecane. Using these values, the rest of experimental data from the five columns was predicted, and the model agreed with the observations. There were some consistent discrepancies at large times between the model simulation and observed data in the cases with higher nitrate concentration. One plausible explanation for these differences could be limitation of biodegradation by reduction of the heptadecane–water interfacial area in these columns while the model uses a constant interfacial area.

Description: Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were impregnated by copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) through the cationization process as well as treated by alkali solutions. Mechanical properties of different single fibers were measured and analysed by the Weibull statistical distribution. The weak link scaling of Weibull analysis has provided valuable information to scale the strength of one EFB fiber to predict the strength of other one. The impregnation and interfacial interaction of CuNPs with fibers has been analysed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray study and thermogravimetric analysis. A significant increase in mechanical property of modified fibers with respect to the control ones has been observed. The crystallinity and thermal stability of the treated fibers were also found to be changed. These findings strongly suggest that CuNPs can be used as an effective reinforcing agent in natural fibers to improve their mechanical property and durability. Graphical Abstract  

Description: Transparent thin film polymer electrolytes were prepared by solvent casting technique with the doping of environmental-friendly ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim] Cl) into the matrix formed by cellulose acetate (CA) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). The ionic conducting nature of this system improves significantly from the order of 10 −7 –10 −2  S cm −1 upon increasing doping of [Amim] Cl content till a maximum of 4.68 × 10 −2  S cm −1 is attained for the composition CA:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl (14:6:80 wt%). The improving trend in ionic conductivity results from the bond weakening between the connecting atoms in the crystalline region that induces to the increase in amorphous counterpart fractions in the CA matrix. This observation was proved via the accountancies in the reduction of relative viscosity, root mean square value and increase in void as increase in [Amim] Cl doping. The resultant phase conversion hence permits immense lithium ion (Li + ) fluidity along the polymer backbone and assisting the improvement in ionic conductivity. The thin film polymer electrolyte is found to be elastic in the presence of crystalline fraction and radically deforms upon the chains diffusion into the amorphous fraction. The linear curvatures of the Arrhenius plot justify the conductivity improvement as via the increasing frequency of Li + ions hopping as the temperature increases. The increasing addition of [Amim] Cl diminishes both the heat-resistivity and thermal stability of CA:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl matrix.

Description: A previously unreported nanocomposite (CMC/GO) high-performance film was prepared by a simple solution mixing-evaporation method. The structure, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the composite films were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, and mechanical testing. The results obtained from these different studies revealed that CMC and graphene oxide were able to form a homogeneous mixture. Compared with pure CMC, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the graphene-based materials were improved significantly upon incorporation of 1 wt% graphene oxide by 67 ± 6 % and 148 ± 5 %, respectively. In addition, the DMA composite films also showed a high storage modulus up to 250 °C.

Description: Nano-scaled particles were obtained from two different cellulose acetates, cellulose acetate propionate, and cellulose acetate butyrate using the emulsification solvent evaporation procedure and the low energy methods of solvent displacement (dialysis and controlled precipitation). The relationship between the formulation parameters and the particle properties were evaluated in case of the emulsification-evaporation technique. For the solvent displacement procedures, the influence of the formulation parameters, and the intrinsic polymer properties like the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance was evaluated. Comparing the methods, it could be shown that large amounts of small and uniform nanoparticles can be obtained by the emulsification solvent evaporation procedure. The solvent displacement techniques turned out to be very easy to use and to yield narrowly distributed particles as well.

Description: A novel quaternarized N -halamine precursor (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)-(5, 5-dimethylhydantoinyl-1-ylmethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride (CDDAC), has been synthesized by a very facile two-step reaction. The two-step synthesis of CDDAC occurred at room temperature with common reactors, so the production of CDDAC could be easily enlarged to an industrial scale. Without any work-up, the final reaction solution which contained CDDAC could be directly used as grafting solution. CDDAC could be effectively grafted onto the surface of cellulose by a dehydrochlorination reaction. CDDAC grafted on cellulose was converted to N -halamine structure which showed powerful antimicrobial property by a chlorination reaction in the diluted NaClO solution. The antimicrobial tests showed that the chlorinated cellulose grafted with CDDAC was capable of 5-log inactivation of S. aureus and E. coli within 5 min. Also, the washing durability and storage stability of chlorinated cellulose grafted with CDDAC were investigated.

Description: Carbonaceous nanofibers (CsNFs) were produced by pyrolysis of cellulose nanofibers synthesised from wood pulp using a top-down approach. The effects of heat treatment conditions on the thermal, morphological, crystal and chemical properties of the CsNFs were investigated using TGA, SEM, XRD and FT-IR, respectively. The results showed that heat treatment conditions around the thermal decomposition temperature of cellulose greatly influence the morphology of resulting materials. Slow heating rates (1 °C/min) between 240 and 400 °C as well as prolonged isothermal heat treatment (17 h) at 240 °C were necessary to avoid destruction of the original fibrous morphology in carbonized nanofibers. On the other hand, such heat treatment had little effect on micron sized fibers. The optimized heat treatment conditions led to the release of oxygen and hydrogen from cellulose before thermal breakdown of glycosidic rings, which in turn prevented depolymerization and tar formation, resulting in the preservation of the fibrous morphology.

Description: Kapok fiber, a natural hollow fiber with thin shell and large cavity, has rarely been used as adsorbent for heavy metal ions. In this paper, kapok fibers were modified with diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) after hydrophilicity treatment. The adsorption behavior of the resultant kapok-DTPA influenced by pH, adsorption time and initial concentration of metal ion was investigated. The results demonstrate that adsorption equilibrium was reached within 2 min for Pb 2+ and Cd 2+ . Adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption rate was well fitted by pseudo-second-order rate model. The adsorption isotherms were studied, and the best fit was obtained in the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities of kapok-DTPA were 310.6 mg g −1 for Pb 2+ , 163.7 mg g −1 for Cd 2+ , 101.0 mg g −1 for Cu 2+ , respectively. After eight desorption and re-adsorption loops, the lost adsorption capacities for Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ were less than 10 %. Because of the large specific area derived from the hollow fiber structure, kapok-DTPA exhibited much better adsorption capacity compared with many other reported adsorbents based on natural materials.

Description: Palladium nano-particles supported on ethylenediamine-functionalized cellulose as a novel bio-supported catalyst were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized catalyst was found to be a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the Heck and Sonogashira couplings in H 2 O as a green solvent at 100 °C in very low loading of Pd. The catalyst could be easily recovered by simple filtration and reused for at least 4 cycles without losing its activity. Graphical Abstract

Description: The consecutive pre-treatment of cellulose with periodate and bisulfite was used as a new potential method to promote nanofibrillation of hardwood pulp and to obtain nanofibrils with sulfonated functionality. Nanofibrils having typical widths of 10–60 nm were obtained from sulfonated celluloses having low anionic charge densities (0.18–0.51 mmol/g) by direct high-pressure homogenization without the use of any mechanical pre-treatments. The aqueous nanofibrils existed as highly viscous and transparent gels and possessed cellulose I crystalline structures with crystallinity indexes of approximately 40 %. A transparent film was obtained from sulfonated nanofibrils having tensile strength of 164 ± 4 MPa and Young’s modulus of 13.5 ± 0.4 MPa. Oxidative sulfonation was shown to be a potential green method to promote nanofibrillation of cellulose, as it avoids the production of halogenated wastes, because the periodate used can be efficiently regenerated and recycled as shown in the preliminary experiments.

Description: Cotton cellulose fibers were modified in inert plasma. Surface morphology of the modified fibers was studied by SEM and changes in the surface composition by XPS and FTIR. Standard goniometry was used for determination of contact angle as a function of modified fiber aging. Absorptivity of modified fibers was determined by gravimetry and fiber width in physiological solution, simulating body liquids, by confocal microscopy. Antibacterial effect of pristine and plasma treated samples was examined by following growth of Escherichia coli . Plasma treatment led to surface ablation, changes in surface morphology and fiber width. Surface of the plasma modified fibers was oxidized and their water absorptivity was reduced. The plasma modification did not affect E. coli growth substantially.

Description: This paper describes an approach to manufacture hierarchical composites from environmentally friendly materials by grafting cellulose whiskers onto regenerated cellulose fibers (Cordenka 700). Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed to verify the degree of modification. The mechanical properties of the unmodified and modified fibers were analyzed using fiber bundle tensile static and loading–unloading tests. To show the effect of cellulose whiskers grafting on the Cordenka fibers, epoxy based composites were manufactured and tensile tests done on transverse uni-directional specimens. The mechanical properties were significantly increased by fiber modification and addition of the nano-phase into composite reinforced with micro-sized fibers.

Description: Total and surface charge of three different carboxymethylated nanofibrillated/microfibrillated cellulose (NFC/MFC) samples were investigated by using titrimetric methods (conductometric and polyelectrolyte (PE) titrations). Conductometric titration was found to be suitable method for the NFC total charge measurements when the back titration with HCl was applied. Surface charge measurements of NFC/MFC were conducted by using both indirect and direct PE titrations. The direct PE titration was found to be a more suitable method for the surface charge determination of NFC/MFC whereas the indirect PE titration produced too high surface charge values. This is presumably due to kinetically locked polyelectrolyte conformations on the NFC/MFC surfaces or entrapment of residual polymer after adsorption onto the NFC/MFC gel network. Finally, NFC was propargyl-functionalized and the changes in surface and total charge were successfully monitored and compared to those of propargyl-functionalized pulp. A good correlation between the titrimetric methods and elemental analysis was observed.

Description: New 3-(hydroxyphenylphosphinyl)-propanoic acid (3-HPP) esters of cellulose were synthesized in N, N-dimethylacetamide/LiCl homogeneously by the method of in situ activation with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride. Chemical structure and thermal properties of the cellulose esters were investigated by FTIR, 13 C-NMR, TGA, RT-IR and Py–GC/MS, and their flame retardancy was studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI) test and vertical flammability test. It was found that the degree of substitution (DS) of cellulose esters, in the range from 0.62 to 1.42, had an obvious effect on solubility of cellulose esters. According to the FT-IR and Py–GC/MS results, flame retardant 3-HPP reacting with cellulose could accelerate dehydration action and decrease flammable released products. Besides, ESEM observation also confirmed that flame retardant cellulose (FRC) fibers with 3 wt% cellulose acetate prepared by dry-wet spinning technique possessed good flame resistance.

Description: In this study cotton fabric was coated with 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH), followed by chlorination with sodium hypochlorite to impart antimicrobial properties and functions. An orthogonal array testing strategy was employed for obtaining the optimum treatment condition. After coating and chlorination, cotton fabrics were characterized with different methods. Ultraviolet spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to observe the properties of cotton fabric after finishing, such as concentration of chlorine on cotton fabric, morphological properties of the surface of cotton fabric and functional groups on the cotton fabric. The results showed that cotton fabric coated with DMH followed with chlorination has antimicrobial properties that are able to resist S. aureus and this property is rechargeable.

Description: The catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose and phosphoric acid pre-treated cellulose was investigated. The thermal processes were carried out applying two different methodologies: conventional fast pyrolysis and microwave-induced pyrolysis. For the catalytic experiments different catalysts were evaluated: CeO 2 , Nb 2 O 5 , SiO 2 , high surface area SiO 2 , Si-MCM-48 and Al-Fe-MCM-48. In all cases the liquid fraction was evaluated by quantifying the yields of anhydrosugars (mainly levoglucosan, levoglucosenone and 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-α- d -glucopyranose) and aromatic hydrocarbons. In the reaction of microcrystalline cellulose levoglucosan was the main product, while levoglucosenone was predominant in the pyrolysis of phosphoric acid pre-treated cellulose. Catalysts improved the fraction of bio-oil and the product distribution depended on the nature of catalytic materials as well as the starting cellulose. On the other hand, the microwave induced pyrolysis favored the formation of char at expenses of liquid fraction. In this case levoglucosenone and other anhydrosugars in conjunction with furan compounds were the main products.

Description: Herein, the microwave-assisted grafting method was employed for the development of a novel pH-responsive graft copolymer derived from polyacrylamide-modified hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose [g-HPMC (M)]. The synthesised copolymer has been used for in vitro sustained release of ornidazole. Various characterizations confirm the formation of graft copolymer. Swelling studies indicate the pH-dependent swelling behaviour, while deswelling studies suggest that g-HPMC (M) shows faster deswelling in response to change in pH and/temperature. The cell viability study signifies that g-HPMC (M) is cytocompatible. The in-vitro release study demonstrates that g-HPMC (M) delivers ornidazole specifically in the colon pH, without release of the drug in the acidic environment, ensuring g-HPMC (M) as an ideal candidate for orally administered colonic drug carriers. The kinetics and mechanism of drug release suggest that it follows a non-Fickian release mechanism.

Description: The effect of the fibrillation process through a twin-screw extruder (TSE) on properties of pulp fibers was studied, considering the degree of both fibrillation and degradation of the fibers. Never-dried refined bleached kraft pulp (NBKP) was passed through a TSE several times at a high concentration of 28 wt%. The output of fibrillated fibers had a solid content up to ca. 50 wt%, and the material was in powder form. Characterizations of the morphology, dewatering speed, sedimentation, laser light scattering, scanning electron microscopy of cellulose suspensions, and light transmittance of resin-impregnated films showed that the fibrillation degree of the pulp was enhanced with a higher number of passes. However, the results from thermogravimetry, intrinsic viscosity, and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that some degradation occurred during the fibrillation process in the TSE. In addition, the mechanical properties of the fibrillated pulp sheets reflected the effects of treatment on the fibrillation and degradation of the cellulose. For never-dried refined NBKP pulp, the best compromise in terms of fibrillation and degradation degree is between 3 and 14 passes, depending on the envisaged properties and applications. The possibility of nanocellulose production at the reported high solid contents is of great interest for industry.

Description:    White-rot fungi are a group of microorganisms capable of degrading xenobiotic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or synthetic dyes, by means of the action of extracellular oxidative enzymes secreted during secondary metabolism. In this study, the transformation of three anti-inflammatory drugs: diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen were carried out by pellets of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in fed-batch bioreactors operating under continuous air supply or periodic pulsation of oxygen. The performance of the fungal reactors was steady over a 30-day treatment and the effect of oxygen pulses on the pellet morphology was evidenced. Complete elimination of diclofenac was achieved in the aerated and the oxygenated reactors, even with a fast oxidation rate in the presence of oxygen (77% after 2 h), reaching a total removal after 23 h. In the case of ibuprofen, this compound was completely oxidized under air and oxygen supply. Finally, naproxen was oxidized in the range of 77 up to 99% under both aeration conditions. These findings demonstrate that the oxidative capability of this microorganism for the anti-inflammatory drugs is not restricted to an oxygen environment, as generally accepted, since the fungal reactor was able to remove these compounds under aerated and oxygenated conditions. This result is very interesting in terms of developing viable reactors for the oxidation of target compounds as the cost of aeration can be significantly reduced. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9494-9 Authors A. I. Rodarte-Morales, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain G. Feijoo, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain M. T. Moreira, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain J. M. Lema, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    In this work, two novel iron oxidizing bacteria (IOB), namely Gordonia sp. MZ-89 and Enterobacter sp . M01101, were isolated from sewage treatment plants and identified by biochemical and molecular methods. Then, microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steel in the presence of these bacteria was investigated. The electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to measure the corrosion rate and observe the corrosion mechanism. The results showed that the existence of these microorganisms decreased the corrosion potential and enhanced the corrosion rate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the ground boundary attacks and pitting on carbon steel samples in the presence of these bacteria after polarization. Corrosion scales were identified with X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was demonstrated that these bacteria can greatly affect the crystalline phase of corrosion products that also confirmed by SEM results. It was inferred that these bacteria were responsible for the corrosion of carbon steel, especially in the form of localized corrosion. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9487-8 Authors H. Ashassi-Sorkhabi, Electrochemistry Research Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran M. Moradi-Haghighi, Electrochemistry Research Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran G. Zarrini, Microbiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Science Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran R. Javaherdashti, Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The common grass Calamagrostis epigeions produces a large amount of dead biomass, which remain above the soil surface for many months. In this study, we determined how exposure of dead biomass above the soil affects its subsequent decomposition in soil. Collected dead standing biomass was divided in two parts, the first one (initial litter) was stored in a dark, dry place. The other part was placed in litterbags in the field. The litterbags were located in soil, on the soil surface, or hanging in the air without contact with soil but exposed to the sun and rain. After 1 year of field exposure, litter mass loss and C and N content were measured, and changes in litter chemistry were explored using NMR and thermochemolysis-GC–MS. The potential decomposability of the litter was quantified by burying the litter from the litterbags and the initial litter in soil microcosms and measuring soil respiration. Soil respiration was greater with litter that had been hanging in air than with all other kinds of litter. These finding could not be explained by changes in litter mass or C:N ratio. NMR indicated a decrease in polysaccharides relative to lignin in litter that was buried in soil but not in litter that was placed on soil surface or that was hanging in the air. Thermochemolysis indicated that the syringyl units of the litter lignin were decomposed when the litter was exposed to light. We postulate that photochemical decay of lignin increase decomposability of dead standing biomass. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9479-8 Authors Jan Frouz, Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University, Benátská 2, 12800 Praha, Czech Republic Tomáš Cajthaml, Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University, Benátská 2, 12800 Praha, Czech Republic Ondřej Mudrák, Institute of soil biology, Biology Center, AS CR, Na Sádkách 7, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Arsenic is a carcinogenic compound widely distributed in the groundwater around the world. The fate of arsenic in groundwater depends on the activity of microorganisms either by oxidizing arsenite (As III ), or by reducing arsenate (As V ). Because of the higher toxicity and mobility of As III compared to As V , microbial-catalyzed oxidation of As III to As V can lower the environmental impact of arsenic. Although aerobic As III -oxidizing bacteria are well known, anoxic oxidation of As III with nitrate as electron acceptor has also been shown to occur. In this study, three As III -oxidizing bacterial strains, Azoarcus sp. strain EC1-pb1, Azoarcus sp. strain EC3-pb1 and Diaphorobacter sp. strain MC-pb1, have been characterized. Each strain was tested for its ability to oxidize As III with four different electron acceptors, nitrate, nitrite, chlorate and oxygen. Complete As III oxidation was achieved with both nitrate and oxygen, demonstrating the novel ability of these bacterial strains to oxidize As III in either anoxic or aerobic conditions. Nitrate was only reduced to nitrite. Different electron donors were used to study their suitability in supporting nitrate reduction. Hydrogen and acetate were readily utilized by all the cultures. The flexibility of these As III -oxidizing bacteria to use oxygen and nitrate to oxidize As III as well as organic and inorganic substrates as alternative electron donors explains their presence in non-arsenic-contaminated environments. The findings suggest that at least some As III -oxidizing bacteria are flexible with respect to electron-acceptors and electron-donors and that they are potentially widespread in low arsenic concentration environments. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9493-x Authors Lucía Rodríguez-Freire, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA Wenjie Sun, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA Reyes Sierra-Alvarez, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA Jim A. Field, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210011, Tucson, AZ, USA Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    To reduce the volume of seaweed wastes and extract polysaccharides, seaweed-degrading bacteria were isolated from drifting macroalgae harvested along the coast of Toyama Bay, Japan. Sixty-four bacterial isolates were capable of degrading “Wakame” ( Undaria pinnatifida ) thallus fragments into single cell detritus (SCD) particles. Amongst these, strain 6532A was the most active degrader of thallus fragments, and was capable of degrading thallus fragments to SCD particles within a day. Although the sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA gene of strain 6532A was 100% similar to that of Microbulbifer elongatus JAMB-A7, several distinct differences were observed between strains, including motility, morphology, and utilization of d -arabinose and gelatin. Consequently, strain 6532A was classified as a new Microbulbifer strain, and was designated Microbulbifer sp. 6532A. Strain 6532A was capable of degrading both alginate and cellulose in the culture medium, zymogram analysis of which revealed the presence of multiple alginate lyases and cellulases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to directly demonstrate the existence of these enzymes in Microbulbifer species. Shotgun cloning and sequencing of the alginate lyase gene in 6532A revealed a 1,074-bp open reading frame, which was designated algMsp . The reading frame encoded a PL family seven enzyme composed of 358 amino acids (38,181 Da). With a similarity of 74.2%, the deduced amino acid sequence was most similar to a Saccharophagus enzyme ( alg 7C ). These findings suggest that algMsp in strain 6532A is a novel alginate lyase gene. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9489-6 Authors Masayuki Wakabayashi, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555 Japan Akihiro Sakatoku, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555 Japan Fumio Noda, Sugiyo Co. Ltd, Nanao, Ishikawa 926-8603, Japan Minoru Noda, Sugiyo Co. Ltd, Nanao, Ishikawa 926-8603, Japan Daisuke Tanaka, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555 Japan Shogo Nakamura, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555 Japan Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The performance of an Arthrobacter viscosus culture to remove diethylketone from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The effect of initial concentration of diethylketone on the growth of the bacteria was evaluated for the range of concentration between 0 and 4.8 g/l, aiming to evaluate a possible toxicological effect. The maximum specific growth rate achieved is 0.221 h −1 at 1.6 g/l of initial diethylketone concentration, suggesting that for higher concentrations an inhibitory effect on the growth occurs. The removal percentages obtained were approximately 88%, for all the initial concentrations tested. The kinetic parameters were estimated using four growth kinetic models for biodegradation of organic compounds available in the literature. The experimental data found is well fitted by the Haldane model ( R 2  = 1) as compared to Monod model ( R 2  = 0.99), Powell ( R 2  = 0.82) and Loung model ( R 2  = 0.95). The biodegradation of diethylketone using concentrated biomass was studied for an initial diethylketone concentration ranging from 0.8–3.9 g/l in a batch with recirculation mode of operation. The biodegradation rate found followed the pseudo-second order kinetics and the resulting kinetic parameters are reported. The removal percentages obtained were approximately 100%, for all the initial concentrations tested, suggesting that the increment on the biomass concentration allows better results in terms of removal of diethylketone. This study showed that these bacteria are very effective for the removal of diethylketone from aqueous solutions. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9488-7 Authors Filomena Costa, IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal Cristina Quintelas, IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal Teresa Tavares, IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description: 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) was selected as co-solvent to dissolve cellulose and silk fibroin and the cellulose/silk fibroin blend fibers were fabricated with dry-jet wet spinning technology. The phase morphology of cellulose and silk fibroin in the blend fibers was studied by scanning electron microcopy and laser scanning confocal microscope. It is shown that the cellulose is in the continuous phase and silk fibroin exists as “fibril-like” in cellulose, in which the radial dimension of silk fibroin phase is 0.5–1.0 μm. The phase size of silk fibroin along the fiber axis increased with the increase of silk fibroin content and draw ratio. From the wide-angle X-ray scattering, it is found that the total crystallinity of the blend fibers decreased with increasing silk fibroin content. The hydrogen bond between cellulose and silk fibroin was observed from Fourier transform infrared spectra. Although the tensile strength and initial modulus of blend fibers decreased with increasing silk fibroin content, the tensile strength of blend fibers contain 35 wt% silk fibroin was up to 191 MPa.

Description:    Trichloroethylene (TCE) is extensively used in commercial applications, despite its risk to human health via soil and groundwater contamination. The stability of TCE, which is a useful characteristic for commercial application, makes it difficult to remove it from the environment. Numerous studies have demonstrated that TCE can be effectively removed from the environment using bioremediation. Pseudomonas putida F1 is capable of degrading TCE into less hazardous byproducts via the toluene dioxygenase pathway (TOD). Unfortunately, these bioremediation systems are not self-sustaining, as the degradation capacity declines over time. Fortunately, the replacement of metabolic co-factors is sufficient in many cases to maintain effective TCE degradation. Thus, monitoring systems must be developed to predict when TCE degradation rates are likely to decline. Herein, we show evidence that tod expression levels correlate with the ability of P. putida F1 to metabolize TCE in the presence of toluene. Furthermore, the presence of toluene improves the replication of P . putida F1, even when TCE is present at high concentration. These findings may be applied to real world applications to decide when the bioremediation system requires supplementation with aromatic substrates, in order to maintain maximum TCE removal capacity. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9544-y Authors Jianbo Liu, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53 Zhengzhou Road, Sifang District, Qingdao, 266061 China Takashi Amemiya, Graduate School of Environment and Information Science, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501 Japan Qing Chang, Graduate School of Environment and Information Science, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501 Japan Yi Qian, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53 Zhengzhou Road, Sifang District, Qingdao, 266061 China Kiminori Itoh, Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501 Japan Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Molasses melanoidin (MM) is a major pollutant in biomethanated distillery spent wash (BMDS) due to its recalcitrant properties. The 75% colour and 71% COD of MM (1,000 ppm) were reduced with developed bacterial consortium comprising Proteus mirabilis (IITRM5; FJ581028), Bacillus sp. (IITRM7; FJ581030), Raoultella planticola (IITRM15; GU329705) and Enterobacter sakazakii (IITRM16, FJ581031) in the ratio of 4:3:2:1 within 10 days at optimized nutrient. Bacterial consortium showed manganese peroxidase and laccase activity during MM decolourisation. The dominant growth of R . planticola and E . sakazakii was noted in consortium during MM decolourisation. The comparative GC–MS analysis of extracted compounds of control and degraded samples showed that most of the compounds present in control were completely utilized by bacterial consortium along with production of some metabolites. The developed bacterial consortium could be a tool for the decolourisation and degradation of melanoidin containing BMDS. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9537-x Authors Sangeeta Yadav, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226025 Uttar Pradesh, India Ram Chandra, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226025 Uttar Pradesh, India Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The capacity of an anaerobic sediment to achieve the simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and carbon tetrachloride (CT) was evaluated, using humic acids (HA) as redox mediator. The presence of HA in sediment incubations increased the rate of biodegradation of phenol and the rate of dehalogenation (2.5-fold) of CT compared to controls lacking HA. Further experiments revealed that the electron-accepting capacity of HA derived from different organic-rich environments was not associated with their reducing capacity to achieve CT dechlorination. The collected kinetic data suggest that the reduction of CT by reduced HA was the rate-limiting step during the simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and CT. To our knowledge, the present study constitutes the first demonstration of the simultaneous biodegradation of two priority pollutants mediated by HA. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9539-8 Authors Claudia M. Martínez, División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICyT), Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4ª Sección, 78216 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico Luis H. Alvarez, División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICyT), Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4ª Sección, 78216 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico Francisco J. Cervantes, División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICyT), Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4ª Sección, 78216 San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    A synthetic route is described here for novel peptide-cellulose conjugates containing O -phospho- l -serine. First, Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 ) and the related dipeptides, Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 )-Asp(OBzl) and Boc-Asp(OBzl)-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 ), were synthesized by adopting the phosphoryl-protection strategy. The condensation reaction between the α -carboxyl group of the protected Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 ) and the β -amino groups of β -Ala-Cellulose using isobutyl chloroformate and N -methylmorpholine yielded the product conjugate, N β -[Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 )]- β -Ala-Cellulose. The degree of substitution of Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 ) towards the β -amino groups of β -Ala-Cellulose was estimated as DS N  = 0.75 (maximum, 1.0). Similar reactions between β -Ala-Cellulose and two kinds of protected dipeptides, Boc-Asp(OBzl)-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 ) and Boc-Ser(PO 3 Ph 2 )-Asp(OBzl), gave the corresponding conjugates, and the DS N was estimated to be 0.95 and 0.69, respectively. The phenyl, benzyl, and Boc groups were removed in one-pot using the Pt 2 O catalyst in 50 % trifluoroacetic acid/acetic acid. The 31 P-NMR and UV–Visible spectra indicated the complete deprotection without any observable elimination of the phosphorylated peptides. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9822-1 Authors Kesavan Devarayan, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Institute of High Polymer Research, Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, 386-8567 Japan Masakazu Hachisu, Research Institute of Genome-based Biofactory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-17-2-1, Tsukisamu-higashi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, 062-8517 Japan Jun Araki, Division of Chemistry and Materials, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, 386-8567 Japan Kousaku Ohkawa, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Institute of High Polymer Research, Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, 386-8567 Japan Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Well soluble dextran-, cellulose-, starch-, and pullulan aryl carbonates were synthesized applying p -NO 2 -phenyl chloroformate, phenyl chloroformate, and phenyl fluoroformate. Aminolysis of the products obtained, using aliphatic amines or benzyl amines, yield novel soluble polysaccharide carbamates. The influence of the reaction conditions on the reaction efficiency depending on polysaccharide, reagent, and reaction parameters including temperature was studied. Thus a synthesis strategy was developed for the easy and efficient design of structures of polysaccharide-based materials. The products were characterized by means of NMR-, UV-Vis- and FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and size exclusion chromatography. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9819-9 Authors Thomas Elschner, Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Kristin Ganske, Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Thomas Heinze, Center of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Flexible composite films were produced by impregnating aqueous phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin into water-swollen cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films. CNF films were prepared using a pressurized filtration method in combination with freeze drying. The freeze-dried films were swollen with water then impregnated with PF resin by soaking in aqueous resin solutions of varying concentrations. Small amounts of PF slightly enhanced the tensile properties of CNF films. The formulation with the best mechanical properties was CNF/PF films with 8 wt % resin exhibiting tensile stress and toughness of 248 MPa and 26 MJ/m 3 , respectively. Resin concentrations higher than about 8 % resulted in composites with decreased tensile properties as compared to neat CNF films. The wet strength of the composite films was significantly higher than that of the neat CNF films. The resulting composites showed greater resistance to moisture absorption accompanied by reduced thickness swelling when soaked in water as compared to neat CNF films. The composites also showed decreased oxygen permeability at low humidity compared to neat films, but the composites did not show improved barrier properties at high humidity. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9815-0 Authors Yan Qing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 498 Shaoshan South Road, Changsha, 410004 China Ronald Sabo, Forest Products Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, 53726-2398 WI, USA Zhiyong Cai, Forest Products Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, 53726-2398 WI, USA Yiqiang Wu, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 498 Shaoshan South Road, Changsha, 410004 China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Hydrorepellency was conferred to cotton fabrics by an hybrid organic–inorganic finishing via sol–gel. The nanosol was prepared by co-hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 1H,1H,2H,2H–fluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOS), or hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (C 16 ), as precursors in weakly acid medium. The application on cotton was carried out by padding with various impregnation times, followed by drying and thermal treatment, varying the FOS add-on from 5 till 30 % on fabric weight or C 16 add-on from 5 to 10 %. Treated samples were tested in terms of contact angles, drop absorption times, washing fastness and characterized by SEM, XPS and FTIR-ATR analyses. In the case of FOS modified nanosol applied with an impregnation time of 24 h or C 16 modified nanosol, water contact angles values very close or even higher than 150° were measured, typical of a superhydrophobic surface. The application of the proposed sol–gel process yielded also a satisfactory treatment fastness to domestic washing, in particular for FOS modified nanosol. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9821-2 Authors Monica Periolatto, Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy Franco Ferrero, Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy Alessio Montarsolo, CNR ISMAC, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, C.so Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy Raffaella Mossotti, CNR ISMAC, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, C.so Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Assessing in situ microbial abilities of soils to degrade pesticides is of great interest giving insight in soil filtering capability, which is a key ecosystem function limiting pollution of groundwater. Quantification of pesticide-degrading gene expression by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was tested as a suitable indicator to monitor pesticide biodegradation performances in soil. RNA extraction protocol was optimized to enhance the yield and quality of RNA recovered from soil samples to perform RT-qPCR assays. As a model, the activity of atrazine-degrading communities was monitored using RT-qPCRs to estimate the level of expression of atzD in five agricultural soils showing different atrazine mineralization abilities. Interestingly, the relative abundance of atzD mRNA copy numbers was positively correlated to the maximum rate and to the maximal amount of atrazine mineralized. Our findings indicate that the quantification of pesticide-degrading gene expression may be suitable to assess biodegradation performance in soil and monitor natural attenuation of pesticide. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9574-5 Authors Cécile Monard, UMR CNRS 6553 ‘EcoBio’—IFR2116/FR90 CAREN, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, Bat 14B, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Fabrice Martin-Laurent, UMR 1347 Agroecologie, AgroSup/INRA/Université de Bourgogne, 17 rue Sully, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France Oscar Lima, UMR CNRS 6553 ‘EcoBio’—IFR2116/FR90 CAREN, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, Bat 14B, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Marion Devers-Lamrani, UMR 1347 Agroecologie, AgroSup/INRA/Université de Bourgogne, 17 rue Sully, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France Françoise Binet, UMR CNRS 6553 ‘EcoBio’—IFR2116/FR90 CAREN, Université de Rennes 1, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, Bat 14B, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Transparent and water repellent gas barrier cellulose films were fabricated by surface modification of alkali/urea regenerated cellulose (AUC) films by soaking in cationic alkylketene dimer (AKD) dispersion, drying, and heating. Highly water repellent and excellent gas barrier properties were obtained for AKD-treated and heated AUC films due to covering of the film surfaces by hydrophobic AKD components. The maximum AKD content of the films was 0.2 %. Oxygen transmission rates for AKD-treated AUC films at 0 % relative humidity (RH) were less than 0.0005 mL m −2 day −1 kPa −1 , the lowest detection limit of the instrument. Water contact angles on the AUC film increased from 50 to 110° after AKD treatment, and water uptake (immersion in water for 6 days) decreased from 92 to 20 %. Moreover, oxygen permeability decreased from 0.56 and 5.8 to 0.13 and 2.1 mL μm m −2 day −1 kPa −1 at 50 and 75 % RH, respectively, when the AKD content of the film was increased from 0 to 0.2 %. The present AKD-treated AUC film also had high light transparency (88 % at 600 nm), tensile strength (168 MPa), elongation at break (29 %), and work of fracture (37 MJ m −3 ). FT–IR analysis showed that AKD components were still present as major species on the AKD-treated film surfaces without hydrolysis at 2 months after conditioning the films at 23 °C and 50 % RH, indicating that such AKD molecules contributed to the hydrophobic nature of the AKD-treated AUC films. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9790-5 Authors Quanling Yang, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Tsuguyuki Saito, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Akira Isogai, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Unbleached (UN), oxygen-delignified and fully-bleached (FB) birch fibers with a residual lignin content of ca. 3, 2 and 〈1 %, respectively, were used to produce nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and nanopaper by using an overpressure device. The tensile index, elongation and elastic modulus of nanopaper were compared and the effect of residual cell wall components accessed. Under similar manufacturing conditions, UN NFC produced nanopaper with a density of 0.99 g/cm 3 , higher than that from FB NFC (0.7 g/cm 3 ). This translated in much lower air permeability in the case of UN nanopaper (1 and 11 mL/min for UN and FB samples, respectively). Fundamentally, these observations are ascribed to the finer fibrils produced during microfluidization of UN fibers compared to those from lower yield counterparts (AFM roughness of 8 and 17 nm and surface areas of 124 and 98 m 2 /g for NFC from UN and FB fibers, respectively). As a result, values of stress at break and energy absorption of nanopaper from high yield fibers are distinctively higher than those from fully bleached NFC. Interactions of water with the surface and bulk material were affected by the chemical composition and structure of the nanofibrils. While UN nanopaper presented higher water contact angles their sorption capacity (and rate of water absorption) was much higher than those measured for nanopaper from FB NFC. These and other observations provided in this contribution are proposed to be related to the mechanoradical scavenging capacity of lignin in high shear microfluidization and the presence of residual heteropolysaccharides. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9788-z Authors Ana Ferrer, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain Elisabet Quintana, Textile and Paper Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain Ilari Filpponen, School of Chemical Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland Iina Solala, School of Chemical Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland Teresa Vidal, Textile and Paper Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain Alejandro Rodríguez, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain Janne Laine, School of Chemical Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland Orlando J. Rojas, School of Chemical Technology, Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes were modified with oxygen (O 2 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), and tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ) plasmas in order to enhance cell affinity. The surface properties of the pristine and plasma-treated BCs were analyzed through water contact angles, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and scanning electron microscopy. O 2 and N 2 plasmas changed the surface of BCs to more hydrophilic while CF 4 plasma altered BCs to be very hydrophobic. ESCA analyses indicated that O 2 , N 2 , and CF 4 plasmas incorporated the functionalities of carbon–oxygen, amides and amino, and carbon-fluoride on BCs, respectively. The effects of the plasma treatments on the adhesion of L-929 fibroblast and Chinese hamster ovary cell lines showed that the cell adhesion and proliferation of both cells was significantly improved on BC-CF 4 , in contrast with that on the pristine BC, BC-O 2 , and BC-N 2 , revealing a functionality-specific effect resulted from different plasmas. Moreover, protein adsorption tests indicated that a higher quantity of proteins in cell culture medium was adsorbed on the CF 4 plasma-treated BCs which presumably played the role of enhancing the subsequent cell growth. This work highlights the great potential of plasma treatments on the improvement of biocompatibility and surface property of BCs for biomedical applications. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9785-2 Authors Hengky Kurniawan, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Keelung Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei, 106 Taiwan Jinn-Tsyy Lai, The Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), 331 Shih-Pin Road, Hsinchu, 300 Taiwan Meng-Jiy Wang, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Keelung Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei, 106 Taiwan Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Fe 3 O 4 /chitosan/poly(acrylic acid) (Fe 3 O 4 /CS/PAA) composite particles, which are reusable, biodegradable and of high adsorption capacity, have been prepared through polymerizing acrylic acid in chitosan and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles aqueous solution. By varying in-feed mole ratio of carboxyl to amino group (n c /n a ) and reactant concentration, the average diameter of Fe 3 O 4 /CS/PAA composite particles can be controlled to vary from 100 to 300 nm. FT-IR, XRD and TEM were used to characterize Fe 3 O 4 /CS/PAA composite particles. Results showed that Fe 3 O 4 was indeed incorporated into CS/PAA particles. The composite particles showed high efficient to remove copper ions (II) in aqueous solution. Adsorption kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the equilibrium data agreed well with the Langmuir model. The saturated adsorption capacity obtained from the experimental was 193 mg/g in close to proximity to the data 200 mg/g calculated from Langmuir model. The saturated adsorption capacity still retained 100 mg/g after three cycles of adsorption–desorption of copper ions (II). Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9783-4 Authors Sai Zhang, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-friendly Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 People’s Republic of China YiFeng Zhou, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-friendly Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 People’s Republic of China WangYan Nie, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-friendly Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 People’s Republic of China LinYong Song, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-friendly Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 People’s Republic of China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Seven varieties of flax ( Linum usitatissimum ) fibres were analyzed in order to gain a deeper insight into the morphological features of the crystalline assembly. Different spectroscopic techniques and a chemical bleaching process were used to provide an accurate description of the lateral arrangement of the polysaccharide chains within the fibre cell wall. The flax fibres were analyzed in their natural state and after an extraction treatment of the non-crystalline components such as hemicelluloses, pectins and phenolics. The chemical bleaching process consisted of a Soxhlet extraction in toluene, a sodium chlorite treatment and an alkaline extraction of the residual hemicelluloses. Solid-state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) confirmed the sequential removal of the non-cellulosic components from the flax cell wall. Both wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and solid-state 13 C NMR provided measures of the crystallite thicknesses and overall crystallinities before and after treatment. The existence of non-cellulosic highly ordered paracrystalline domains was also evidenced by proton spin relaxation time calculation. Whereas the overall crystallinity determined by WAXD decreased after treatment, the cellulose crystallinity calculated with the help of the solid-state 13 C NMR slightly increased. This is explained by the difference in chemical selectivity between these two techniques and by the paracrystalline state of both hemicelluloses and pectins. Strong adhesion between cellulose crystallites, hemicelluloses and pectins in the fibres was evidenced by low spin–spin relaxation times and by an increase in crystallite thickness after bleaching. A simple model is proposed that describes the rearrangement of the macromolecules during the bleaching process. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9786-1 Authors Benoît Duchemin, LOMC, UMR 6294, CNRS-Université du Havre, 53 rue Prony, 76058 Le Havre, France Anthony Thuault, LOMC, UMR 6294, CNRS-Université du Havre, 53 rue Prony, 76058 Le Havre, France Aurélie Vicente, Laboratoire Catalyse et Spectrochimie (LCS), ENSICAEN, Université de Caen, CNRS, 14050 Caen, France Baptiste Rigaud, Laboratoire Catalyse et Spectrochimie (LCS), ENSICAEN, Université de Caen, CNRS, 14050 Caen, France Christian Fernandez, Laboratoire Catalyse et Spectrochimie (LCS), ENSICAEN, Université de Caen, CNRS, 14050 Caen, France Sophie Eve, Laboratoire de Cristallographie et de Sciences des Matériaux, ENSICAEN, Université de Caen, CNRS, 14050 Caen, France Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Chemical surface modification of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was performed using a long aliphatic isocyanate chain. Different molar ratios of the coupling agents were tested, i.e., 1, 10, 30 equivalents with respect to hydroxyl groups of the NFC surface. FE-SEM analyses revealed that there were no changes in their morphology thus keeping nanofibril-like structure with about 30 nm of diameter. All these samples were characterized by different techniques (e.g., FTIR) to check the efficiency of the grafting. Hydrophobic NFC were achieved whatever the grafting agent ratio. The Degree of Substitution was determined by Elemental Analyses and the Degree of Substitution of the Surface was calculated thanks to X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy data. Combining these two techniques, the Internal Degree of Substitution was proposed for the first time. It indicates if the modification occurs also within NFC internal layers. Surface (contact angle), rheological (water suspension viscosity) and thermal properties (ThermoGravimetric Analysis) of grafted NFC do not follow the expected linear evolution of properties with the increase of molar ratio. X-Ray Diffraction analyses showed that the grafted aliphatic chains display crystalline waxy domains at some ratios. A model for aliphatic chain organization at the surface is proposed and clearly explained for the first time why a compromise in molar ratio is necessary to achieve best properties. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9780-7 Authors Karim Missoum, Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science (LGP2), 461, rue de la papeterie, BP65, 38402 St-Martin-d’Hères Cedex, France Julien Bras, Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science (LGP2), 461, rue de la papeterie, BP65, 38402 St-Martin-d’Hères Cedex, France Mohamed Naceur Belgacem, Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science (LGP2), 461, rue de la papeterie, BP65, 38402 St-Martin-d’Hères Cedex, France Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Gold nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of natural fique fibers extracted from the leaves of Furcraea spp., a plant native to the Andean mountains in Colombia. Fique fibers have a low density, are biodegradable, flexible, highly resistant to wear and exhibit excellent thermal degradation making them promising materials for the textile and packing industries as well as fillers for fiber-reinforced composites. Fique fiber surface was rendered positive using a cationizing agent 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHTAC) under strong alkaline conditions. Cationic fique fibers were impregnated with an anionic gold complex that was further reduced to generate gold nanoparticles onto the fibers surface. The influence of CHTAC reaction times and NaOH:CHTAC molar ratios were examined. It was found that increasing the NaOH:CHTAC molar ratio had a negligible effect on nanoparticle size, while the surface coverage density was positively influenced. We hypothesize that the number of positive charges on the fiber surface is the key factor behind this observation. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; mechanical tests and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the modified fibers and the resulting nanoparticles. The proposed method opens a new path for the development of functional natural renewable substrates. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9763-8 Authors L. J. Castellanos, Escuela de Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, A.A. 678, Bucaramanga, Colombia C. Blanco-Tirado, Escuela de Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, A.A. 678, Bucaramanga, Colombia J. P. Hinestroza, Fiber Science Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA M. Y. Combariza, Escuela de Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, A.A. 678, Bucaramanga, Colombia Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Plasmid-mediated bioaugmentation was demonstrated using sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) for enhancing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) removal by introducing Cupriavidus necator JMP134 and Escherichia coli HB101 harboring 2,4-D-degrading plasmid pJP4. C. necator JMP134(pJP4) can mineralize and grow on 2,4-D, while E. coli HB101(pJP4) cannot assimilate 2,4-D because it lacks the chromosomal genes to degrade the intermediates. The SBR with C. necator JMP134(pJP4) showed 100 % removal against 200 mg/l of 2,4-D just after its introduction, after which 2,4-D removal dropped to 0 % on day 7 with the decline in viability of the introduced strain. The SBR with E. coli HB101(pJP4) showed low 2,4-D removal, i.e., below 10 %, until day 7. Transconjugant strains of Pseudomonas and Achromobacter isolated on day 7 could not grow on 2,4-D. Both SBRs started removing 2,4-D at 100 % after day 16 with the appearance of 2,4-D-degrading transconjugants belonging to Achromobacter , Burkholderia , Cupriavidus , and Pandoraea . After the influent 2,4-D concentration was increased to 500 mg/l on day 65, the SBR with E. coli HB101(pJP4) maintained stable 2,4-D removal of more than 95 %. Although the SBR with C. necator JMP134(pJP4) showed a temporal depression of 2,4-D removal of 65 % on day 76, almost 100 % removal was achieved thereafter. During this period, transconjugants isolated from both SBRs were mainly Achromobacter with high 2,4-D-degrading capability. In conclusion, plasmid-mediated bioaugmentation can enhance the degradation capability of activated sludge regardless of the survival of introduced strains and their 2,4-D degradation capacity. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9591-4 Authors Hirofumi Tsutsui, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Yasutaka Anami, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Masami Matsuda, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Kurumi Hashimoto, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Daisuke Inoue, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Kazunari Sei, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Satoshi Soda, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Michihiko Ike, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The effectiveness of many bioremediation systems for PAH-contaminated soil may be constrained by low contaminant bioaccessibility due to limited aqueous solubility or large sorption capacity. Information on the extent to which PAHs can be readily biodegraded is of vital importance in the decision whether or not to remediate a contaminated soil. In the present study the rate-limiting factors in methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD)-enhanced bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil were evaluated. MCD amendment at 10 % (w/w) combined with inoculation with the PAH-degrading bacterium Paracoccus sp. strain HPD-2 produced maximum removal of total PAHs of up to 35 %. The desorption of PAHs from contaminated soil was determined before and after 32 weeks of bioremediation. 10 % (w/w) MCD amendment (M2) increased the Tenax extraction of total PAHs from 12 to 30 % and promoted degradation by up to 26 % compared to 6 % in the control. However, the percentage of Tenax extraction for total PAHs was much larger than that of degradation. Thus, in the control and M2 treatment it is likely that during the initial phase the bioaccessibility of PAHs is high and biodegradation rates may be limited by microbial processes. On the other hand, when the soil was inoculated with the PAH-degrading bacterium (CKB and MB2), the slowly and very slowly desorbing fractions ( F sl and F vl ) became larger and the rate constants of slow and very slow desorption ( k sl and k vl ) became extremely small after bioremediation, suggesting that desorption is likely rate limiting during the second, slow phase of biotransformation. These results have practical implications for site risk assessment and cleanup strategies. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9593-2 Authors Mingming Sun, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China Yongming Luo, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China Ying Teng, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China Peter Christie, Agri-Environment Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX UK Zhongjun Jia, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China Zhengao Li, Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    This review focuses on ligninolytic fungi, soil bacteria, plants and root exudates in the degradation and solubilisation of low grade and waste coal and the interaction between these mutualistic biocatalysts. Coal represents a considerable portion of the total global fossil fuel reserve and continued demand for, and supply of this resource generates vast quantities of spoil and low grade waste. Large scale bioremediation technologies for the beneficiation of waste coal have unfortunately not yet been realised despite the many discoveries of microorganisms capable of lignite, lignin, and humic acid breakdown. Even so, solubilisation and depolymerization of low grade coal appears to involve either ligninolytic enzyme action or the production of alkaline substances or both. While the precise mechanism of coal biosolubilisation is unclear, a model for the phyto-biodegradation of low rank coal by mutualistic interaction between ligninolytic microorganisms and higher plants is proposed. Based on accumulated evidence this model suggests that solubilisation and degradation of lignite and waste coals commences upon plant root exudate and ligninolytic microorganism interaction, which is mutualistic, and includes soil bacteria and both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fungi. It is envisaged that this model and its further elaboration will aid in the development of functional technologies for commercial bioremediation of coal mine spoils, contribute to soil formation, and the overall biogeochemistry of organic carbon in the global ecosystem. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9594-1 Authors Lerato M. Sekhohola, Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa Eric E. Igbinigie, Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa A. Keith Cowan, Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    N,N -Dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) mixture is a popular solvent system used for cellulose dissolution, analysis, and derivatization. However, a pre-treatment (activation) procedure is needed for most celluloses to dissolve readily in DMAc/LiCl. Here, an optimized version of the activation protocol based on solvent exchange to 1,4-dioxane was introduced. Its universality was demonstrated by successful activation and dissolution of six different celluloses (AVICEL, Sigmacell, cotton linters, Encell, Lincell, and Whatman paper). Dissolution times varied significantly for different cellulose types and also depended on factors such as the drying method employed or the water removal step inclusion/omission. Dioxane-activated celluloses were analyzed with a variety of methods. SEC measurements indicated low destructivity of the dioxane activation method. The infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that dioxane remained adsorbed on cellulose even after rigorous drying. In addition, upon dioxane activation, stagnation or a slight increase in the total order index of celluloses was observed. This observation was in accordance with the crystallinity index changes determined by solid-state NMR. Finally, scanning electron microscopy revealed disintegration of AVICEL particles and defibrillation of fibrous celluloses upon dioxane activation; Sigmacell remained apparently unchanged. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9779-0 Authors Vladimír Raus, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Adriana Šturcová, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Jiří Dybal, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Miroslav Šlouf, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Taťána Vacková, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Petr Šálek, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Libor Kobera, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Petr Vlček, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    The preparation of high-strength hydrogels from plant-based cellulose nanofibers by simple alkaline treatment is described herein. We isolated the cellulose nanofibers with a uniform width of approximately 15 nm from wood and we prepared two types of hydrogel sheet with different crystal forms (celluloses I and II) in 9 and 15 wt% aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions. Both of the hydrogels exhibited high tensile properties because of the crystalline network in the gels. Especially, the nanofiber hydrogel with a cellulose II crystal structure with the swelling degree of 13.4 achieved a Young’s modulus and tensile strength in excess of 35 and 5 MPa respectively, because it had a continuous and strong nano-network formed via the interdigitation of the neighboring nanofibers during mercerization. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9784-3 Authors Kentaro Abe, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasyo, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011 Japan Hiroyuki Yano, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasyo, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011 Japan Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    The effect of urea on the cellulose degradation under conditions of alkaline pulping has been studied using purified cellulose powder. The increased cellulose yield in the presence of urea was assigned essentially to the carbamation reactions which were confirmed by elemental analysis, UV-resonance Raman and solid-state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The stabilizing effect of urea on the cellulose peeling reactions during heating up period of pulping process was suggested based on kinetic studies and additionally confirmed in model reactions using cellobiose. The reaction products formed in alkaline urea solutions were analysed by tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and the occurrence of Maillard type reactions between reducing end groups of cellobiose and urea were evidenced. Both Maillard type reactions and carbamation of reducing end groups were proposed to be a part of cellulose protection mechanism against peeling under the conditions of alkaline pulping. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9791-4 Authors Olga Ershova, Department of Forest Products Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, 00076 Espoo, Finland Elisabete V. da Costa, CICECO/QOPNA, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal António J. S. Fernandes, I3N, Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal M. Rosário Domingues, CICECO/QOPNA, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Dmitry V. Evtuguin, CICECO/QOPNA, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Herbert Sixta, Department of Forest Products Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, 00076 Espoo, Finland Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Field experiments were conducted to assess the potential for anaerobic biostimulation to enhance BTEX biodegradation under fermentative methanogenic conditions in groundwater impacted by a biodiesel blend (B20, consisting of 20 % v/v biodiesel and 80 % v/v diesel). B20 (100 L) was released at each of two plots through an area of 1 m 2 that was excavated down to the water table, 1.6 m below ground surface. One release was biostimulated with ammonium acetate, which was added weekly through injection wells near the source zone over 15 months. The other release was not biostimulated and served as a baseline control simulating natural attenuation. Ammonium acetate addition stimulated the development of strongly anaerobic conditions, as indicated by near-saturation methane concentrations. BTEX removal began within 8 months in the biostimulated source zone, but not in the natural attenuation control, where BTEX concentrations were still increasing (due to source dissolution) 2 years after the release. Phylogenetic analysis using quantitative PCR indicated an increase in concentration and relative abundance of Archaea (Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota), Geobacteraceae ( Geobacter and Pelobacter spp.) and sulfate-reducing bacteria ( Desulfovibrio , Desulfomicrobium , Desulfuromusa , and Desulfuromonas ) in the biostimulated plot relative to the control. Apparently, biostimulation fortuitously enhanced the growth of putative anaerobic BTEX degraders and associated commensal microorganisms that consume acetate and H 2 , and enhance the thermodynamic feasibility of BTEX fermentation. This is the first field study to suggest that anaerobic-methanogenic biostimulation could enhance source zone bioremediation of groundwater aquifers impacted by biodiesel blends. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9589-y Authors Débora Toledo Ramos, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Márcio Luis Busi da Silva, EMBRAPA, BR153 Km 110, P.O. Box 21, Concórdia, SC 89700-000, Brazil Helen Simone Chiaranda, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA Henry Xavier Corseuil, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Pseudoxanthomonas sp. RN402 was capable of degrading diesel, crude oil, n -tetradecane and n -hexadecane. The RN402 cells were immobilized on the surface of high-density polyethylene plastic pellets at a maximum cell density of 10 8 most probable number (MPN) g −1 of plastic pellets. The immobilized cells not only showed a higher efficacy of diesel oil removal than free cells but could also degrade higher concentrations of diesel oil. The rate of diesel oil removal by immobilized RN402 cells in liquid culture was 1,050 mg l −1  day −1 . Moreover, the immobilized cells could maintain high efficacy and viability throughout 70 cycles of bioremedial treatment of diesel-contaminated water. The stability of diesel oil degradation in the immobilized cells resulted from the ability of living RN402 cells to attach to material surfaces by biofilm formation, as was shown by CLSM imaging. These characteristics of the immobilized RN402 cells, including high degradative efficacy, stability and flotation, make them suitable for the purpose of continuous wastewater bioremediation. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9596-z Authors Wannarak Nopcharoenkul, Inter-Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand Parichat Netsakulnee, Bioremediation Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand Onruthai Pinyakong, Bioremediation Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Stimulation of native microbial populations in soil by the addition of small amounts of secondary carbon sources (cosubstrates) and its effect on the degradation and theoretical mineralization of DDT [l,l,l-trichloro-2,2-bis( p -chlorophenyl)ethane] and its main metabolites, DDD and DDE, were evaluated. Microbial activity in soil polluted with DDT, DDE and DDD was increased by the presence of phenol, hexane and toluene as cosubstrates. The consumption of DDT was increased from 23 % in a control (without cosubstrate) to 67, 59 and 56 % in the presence of phenol, hexane and toluene, respectively. DDE was completely removed in all cases, and DDD removal was enhanced from 67 % in the control to ~86 % with all substrates tested, except for acetic acid and glucose substrates. In the latter cases, DDD removal was either inhibited or unchanged from the control. The optimal amount of added cosubstrate was observed to be between 0.64 and 2.6 mg C \text g - 1 \text dry soil . The CO 2 produced was higher than the theoretical amount for complete cosubstrate mineralization indicating possible mineralization of DDT and its metabolites. Bacterial communities were evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, which indicated that native soil and the untreated control presented a low bacterial diversity. The detected bacteria were related to soil microorganisms and microorganisms with known biodegradative potential. In the presence of toluene a bacterium related to Azoarcus , a genus that includes species capable of growing at the expense of aromatic compounds such as toluene and halobenzoates under denitrifying conditions, was detected. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9578-1 Authors Irmene Ortíz, Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Artificios 40, Col. Hidalgo, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, 01120 Mexico, DF, Mexico Antonio Velasco, Centro Nacional de Investigación y Capacitación Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Ecología, Mexico, DF, Mexico Sylvie Le Borgne, Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Artificios 40, Col. Hidalgo, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, 01120 Mexico, DF, Mexico Sergio Revah, Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa, Artificios 40, Col. Hidalgo, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, 01120 Mexico, DF, Mexico Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    A comprehensive study on the effects of different carbon sources during the bacterial enrichment on the removal performances of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds when present as a mixture was conducted. Batch BTEX removal kinetic experiments were performed using cultures enriched with individual BTEX compounds or BTEX as a mixture or benzoate alone or benzoate–BTEX mixture. An integrated Monod-type non-linear model was developed and a ratio between maximum growth rate ( μ max ) and half saturation constant (K s ) was used to fit the non-linear model. A higher μ max /K s indicates a higher affinity to degrade BTEX compounds. Complete removal of BTEX mixture was observed by all the enriched cultures; however, the removal rates for individual compounds varied. Degradation rate and the type of removal kinetics were found to be dependent on the type of carbon source during the enrichment. Cultures enriched on toluene and those enriched on BTEX mixture were found to have the greatest μ max /K s and cultures enriched on benzoate had the least μ max /K s . Removal performances of the cultures enriched on all different carbon sources, including the ones enriched on benzoate or benzoate–BTEX mixture were also improved during a second exposure to BTEX. A molecular analysis showed that after each exposure to the BTEX mixture, the cultures enriched on benzoate and those enriched on benzoate–BTEX mixture had increased similarities to the culture enriched on BTEX mixture. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9586-1 Authors Murthy Kasi, Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA Tanush Wadhawan, Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA John McEvoy, Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA G. Padmanabhan, Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA Eakalak Khan, Department of Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Over the past few decades significant progress has been made in research on DDT degradation in the environment. This review is an update of some of the recent studies on the degradation and biodegradation pathways of DDT and its metabolites, particularly in soils. The latest reports on human toxicity shows that DDT intake is still occurring even in countries that banned its use decades ago. Ageing, sequestration and formation of toxic metabolites during the degradation processes pose environmental challenges and result in difficulties in bioremediation of DDT contaminated soils. Degradation enhancement strategies such as the addition of chelators, low molecular organic acids, co-solvent washing and the use of sodium and seaweeds as ameliorant have been studied to accelerate degradation. This review describes and discusses the recent challenges and degradation enhancement strategies for DDT degradation by potentially cost effective procedures based on bioremediation. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9575-4 Authors Simi Sudharshan, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia Ravi Naidu, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia Megharaj Mallavarapu, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia Nanthi Bolan, Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    A sequencing batch reactor was employed to treat the acrylic fiber wastewater. The dissolved oxygen and mixed liquor suspended solids were 2–3 and 3,500–4,000 mg/L, respectively. The results showed ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) had superior growth rate at high temperature than nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Partial nitrification could be obtained with the temperature of 28 °C. When the pH value was 8.5, the nitrite-N accumulation efficiency was 82 %. The combined inhibitions of high pH and free ammonium to NOB devoted to the nitrite-N buildup. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) was a key factor in partial nitrification control, and the optimal HRT was 20 h for nitrite-N buildup in acrylic fiber wastewater treatment. The ammonium oxidation was almost complete and the transformation from nitrite to nitrate could be avoided. AOB and NOB accounted for 2.9 and 4.7 %, respectively, corresponding to the pH of 7.0. When the pH was 8.5, they were 6.7 and 0.9 %, respectively. AOB dominated nitrifying bacteria, and NOB was actually washed out from the system. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9599-9 Authors Jin Li, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China Deshuang Yu, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China Peiyu Zhang, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The flame retardancy properties of cotton have been enhanced by exploiting an optimized multistep sol–gel process, consisting of a pre-hydrolysis step, followed by consecutive depositions of hybrid phosphorus-doped silica layers, using DPTS as precursor of the oxidic phases. Upon optimization, it has been demonstrated that just one phosphorus-doped silica layer is able to strongly reduce the heat release rate (−52 %), and the total smoke release (−56 %) and its rate (−62 %) with respect to the untreated fabric. In addition, the deposition of three layers allows achieving a higher flammability resistance if compared to a single layer, as indicated by the final residue after the flammability tests. As far as flammability resistance is concerned, the new coatings have shown a good durability when subjected up to five washing cycles according to ISO 6330 standard. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9806-1 Authors Jenny Alongi, Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, sede di Alessandria and local INSTM unit, Viale Teresa Michel 5, 15121 Alessandria, Italy Claudio Colleoni, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Bergamo, Viale Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Bergamo, Italy Giuseppe Rosace, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Bergamo, Viale Marconi 5, 24044 Dalmine, Bergamo, Italy Giulio Malucelli, Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, sede di Alessandria and local INSTM unit, Viale Teresa Michel 5, 15121 Alessandria, Italy Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were chemically modified by acetylating to obtain acetylated cellulose nanowhiskers (ACNWs) which could be well dispersed in acetone. The chemical modification was limited only on the surface of CNWs which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface substitution degree of ACNWs was evaluated to be 0.45 through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Fully bioresource-based nanocomposite films were manufactured by incorporation of ACNWs into cellulose acetate (CA) using a casting/evaporation technique. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) demonstrated that ACNWs dispersed well in the CA matrix, which resulted in high transparency of all CA nanocomposites. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus and strain at break of all CA nanocomposites exhibited simultaneous increase in comparison with neat CA matrix. At the content of 4.5 wt% ACNWs, the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and strain at break of the CA nanocomposite film were increased by 9, 39, and 44 % respectively. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9796-z Authors Zhen-Yu Yang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Wen-Jun Wang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Zi-Qiang Shao, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Hai-Dong Zhu, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Yong-Hong Li, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Fei-Jun Wang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    We describe the synthesis, characterization and use of a composite material made of a renewable source and metallic nanoparticles for biosensing applications. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a product isolated from natural cellulose fibers, which is of approximately 100 nm long and 10 nm wide in size. We augmented the surface area and tailored the chemical affinity of NCC by optimally dressing it with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The deposition of AuNPs on NCC was controlled by using cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) at different pHs. AuNPs were thiol-functionalized using different linkers prior to enzyme immobilization. The enzyme (glucose oxidase or GOx) was conjugated on the composite by carbodiimide coupling, and subsequent activation of linker-carboxylic acid group. Our results showed that GOx was attached to the surface of the NCC nanocomposite. Moreover, the amount of GOx loaded onto the support depended on the length of the thiol-linker used. The lower value (20.3 mg/mg of support) was obtained with the longer thiol-linker (11 carbon chain) compared to 25.2 mg/mg of support for the smaller thiol-linker (3 carbon chain). Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9805-2 Authors Vanessa Incani, National Institute for Nanotechnology, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, T6G 2M9 Canada Christophe Danumah, National Institute for Nanotechnology, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, T6G 2M9 Canada Yaman Boluk, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2M2 Canada Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    In biological nitrogen removal, application of the autotrophic anammox process is gaining ground worldwide. Although this field has been widely researched in last years, some aspects as the accelerating effect of putative intermediates (mainly N 2 H 4 and NH 2 OH) need more specific investigation. In the current study, experiments in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and batch tests were performed to evaluate the optimum concentrations of anammox process intermediates that accelerate the autotrophic nitrogen removal and mitigate a decrease in the anammox bacteria activity using anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) biomass enriched on ring-shaped biofilm carriers. Anammox biomass was previously grown on blank biofilm carriers for 450 days at moderate temperature 26.0 (±0.5) °C by using sludge reject water as seeding material. FISH analysis revealed that anammox microorganisms were located in clusters in the biofilm. With addition of 1.27 and 1.31 mg N L −1 of each NH 2 OH and N 2 H 4 , respectively, into the MBBR total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was rapidly restored after inhibitions by NO 2 − . Various combinations of N 2 H 4 , NH 2 OH, NH 4 + , and NO 2 − were used as batch substrates. The highest total nitrogen (TN) removal rate with the optimum N 2 H 4 concentration (4.38 mg N L −1 ) present in these batches was 5.43 mg N g −1 TSS h −1 , whereas equimolar concentrations of N 2 H 4 and NH 2 OH added together showed lower TN removal rates. Intermediates could be applied in practice to contribute to the recovery of inhibition-damaged wastewater treatment facilities using anammox technology. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9549-6 Authors Ivar Zekker, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Kristel Kroon, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Ergo Rikmann, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Toomas Tenno, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Martin Tomingas, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Priit Vabamäe, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Siegfried E. Vlaeminck, Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Taavo Tenno, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila St., 50411 Tartu, Estonia Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The chemical structure of rye arabinoxylan (rAX) was systematically modified, exploiting selective enzymes to mimic different naturally occurring xylans, i.e., its degree of substitution (DS) was decreased using α- l -arabinofuranosidase, and a controlled decrease in the degree of polymerization (DP) was performed using endo-1,4-β- d -xylanase. The arabinose to xylose ratio was decreased from 0.45 to 0.27 and the weight-average molar mass was decreased from 184,000 to 49,000 g/mol. The resulting samples were used to prepare films, as such, and with 15% (wt. − %) softwood-derived microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) to obtain novel plant-derived biocomposite materials. The enzymatic tailoring of rAX increased the crystallinity of films, evidenced by X-ray diffraction studies, and the addition of MFC to the debranched, low DS rAX induced the formation of ordered structures visible with polarizing optical microscopy. MFC decreased the moisture uptake of films and increased the relative humidity of softening of the films, detected with moisture scanning dynamic mechanical analysis. For the first time, the chemical structure of xylan was proven to significantly affect the reinforcement potential of nano-sized cellulose, as the tensile strength of films from high DP rAXs, but not that of low DP rAXs, clearly increased with the addition of MFC. At the same time, MFC only increased the Young’s modulus of films from rAX with high arabinose content, regardless of DP. Content Type Journal Article Pages 467-480 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9655-y Authors Kirsi S. Mikkonen, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Leena Pitkänen, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Ville Liljeström, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Elina Mabasa Bergström, INNVENTIA AB, Fibre & Material Science, Box 5604, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden Ritva Serimaa, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Lennart Salmén, INNVENTIA AB, Fibre & Material Science, Box 5604, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden Maija Tenkanen, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239 Journal Volume Volume 19 Journal Issue Volume 19, Number 2

Description:    We prepared two cellulose hydrates, Na-cellulose IV and cellulose II hydrate, along with their respective anhydrous forms, cellulose II and II′, from microcrystalline cellulose. X-ray diffractometry analysis showed that the structure of the hydrophobic stacking sheet was conserved in the samples, but the distance between the sheets was in the order: cellulose II hydrate 〉 Na-cellulose IV 〉 cellulose II and II′. The hydrates exhibited an expanded structure compared with the anhydrous form from the incorporation of hydrate water, and cellulose II hydrate contained more hydrate water than Na-cellulose IV. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the samples was carried out at 37 °C using solutions comprising a mixture of cellulase and β-glucosidase. The hydrates were hydrolyzed more efficiently than the anhydrous forms, and cellulose II hydrate showed a more efficient hydrolysis than Na-cellulose IV. This result also agrees well with the enzymatic adsorption properties of each sample, where the samples that adsorbed the greater amount of enzyme showed a higher degradability. The results obtained in this study provide useful knowledge on controlling the biodegradability of cellulose by converting its structure. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9696-2 Authors Kayoko Kobayashi, Department of Biomaterials Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Satoshi Kimura, Department of Biomaterials Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Ung-Jin Kim, Department of Plant and Environmental New Resources, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, 1, Seocheon-dong, Giheung-ku, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Republic of Korea Ken Tokuyasu, Food Resource Division, National Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-12 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8642 Japan Masahisa Wada, Department of Biomaterials Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    A novel hydrogel has synthesized by grafting polyacrylamide chains onto hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in presence of potassium persulphate as initiator using solution polymerization technique. The reaction was carried out in homogeneous aqueous medium. The effect of reaction parameters on percentage of grafting (% G) and grafting efficiency (% GE) were discussed. The parameters were varied systematically to achieve the best hydrogel. Developed hydrogels were characterized by various materials characterization techniques. The dynamic and equilibrium swelling properties of hydrogels were investigated as a function of pH and time in various buffer solutions similar to that of gastric and intestinal fluid. Results showed that with increase in % G and % GE, the rate of swelling decreases, which can opens the door for further study of their utilization as matrices for controlled/sustained/targeted drug delivery. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9692-6 Authors R. Das, Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004 India A. B. Panda, Disciplines of Inorganic Materials and Catalysis, CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, 364021 India Sagar Pal, Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004 India Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Bacterial cellulose was oxidized by periodate oxidation to give rise to 2,3-dialdehyde bacterial cellulose (DABC) with 60.3 ± 0.5 % aldehyde content, which was further reacted with gelatin (Gel) for the immobilization of Gel to form DABC/Gel nanocomposites. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that DABC/Gel exhibited the refined 3D nano-network structures and the average thickness of Gel coatings in the composites was about 75 nm. FTIR and XPS were utilized to analyze the functional groups and chemical states of DABC/Gel nanocomposites. The results inferred that Gel was fixed on DABC nanofibers via the Schiff base reaction between –NH 2 in Gel and –CHO in DABC backbone. NIH3T3 mice fibroblast cells were used for determining the cytocompatibility of the scaffolds. The morphology of the cells was observed through optical inverted microscopy. The results show that DABC/Gel can be used as scaffold material in tissue engineering. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9698-0 Authors Chuan Gao, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China Tao Yan, Department of Pharmacy Servic, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, 300060 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China Kerong Dai, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, People’s Republic of China Yizao Wan, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300072 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    3-Allyloxy-2-hydroxypropylcelluloses (AHP-celluloses), reactive unsaturated cellulose derivatives, were homogeneously synthesized by the reaction of cellulose with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) in NaOH/urea aqueous solution. Water-soluble AHP-celluloses with DS NMR  = 0.32–0.67 were prepared from microcrystalline cellulose. The degree of substitution (DS) of AHP-celluloses could be controlled by varying the molar ratio of AGE and NaOH to AGU and the reaction conditions. The structure of AHP-cellulose samples were characterized by means of FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. The cellulose ether shows thermoreversible flocculation. Bromination reactions were carried out as subsequent functionalization both to illustrate the reactivity of the allyl function and to determine the DS values. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9687-3 Authors Haisong Qi, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Tim Liebert, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Thomas Heinze, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Polysaccharide Research, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    The morphology and crystalline structure changes of cellulose during dissolution in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [(BMIM)Cl] were investigated by optical microscopy and synchrotron radiation wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Neither swelling nor dissolution of cellulose was observed under the melting point of [BMIM]Cl. While the temperature was elevated to 70 °C, the swelling phenomenon of cellulose happened with the interplanar spacing of ( 1 - 1   0 ) and (020) planes increased slightly. With the temperature further going up to 80 °C, cellulose was dissolved gradually with the crystallinity ( W c,x ) and crystalline index ( CrI ) of cellulose decreased rapidly, which indicated the crystalline structure of cellulose was destroyed completely and transformed into amorphous structure. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9689-1 Authors Guansen Jiang, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Weifeng Huang, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Baochun Wang, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Yumei Zhang, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Huaping Wang, State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620 China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    The hypothesis advanced in this issue of CELLULOSE [Springer] by Bjorn Lindman, which asserts that the solubility or insolubility characteristics of cellulose are significantly based upon amphiphilic and hydrophobic molecular interactions, is debated by cellulose scientists with a wide range of experiences representing a variety of scientific disciplines. The hypothesis is based on the consideration of some fundamental polymer physicochemical principles and some widely recognized inconsistencies in behavior. The assertion that little-recognized (or under-estimated) hydrophobic interactions have been the reason for a tardy development of cellulose solvents provides the platform for a debate in the hope that new scientific endeavors are stimulated on this important topic. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9691-7 Authors Wolfgang G. Glasser, Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA Rajai H. Atalla, Chem. Biol. Eng., University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA John Blackwell, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western University, Cleveland, OH, USA R. Malcolm Brown, Plant Cell Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA Walther Burchard, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany Alfred D. French, Southern Regional Research Center, ARS-USDA, New Orleans, LA, USA Dieter O. Klemm, Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Jena, Jena, Germany Yoshiharu Nishiyama, CERMAV-CNRS, Grenoble, France Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Due to the high potential of cellulose nanoparticles in composite materials and for both fundamental and technological considerations, we investigated the interaction between microfibrillar cellulose and fibers. The contribution to the paper properties of fines added to a pulp suspension was determined. The impact of various proportions of fines added to a softwood kraft pulp on the paper strength and how they affected porosity and density was evaluated. The respective effects of dried fines (dead fines), originating from paper or board degradation, and the newly formed secondary fines (fresh fines) generated during refining were examined. The nature of the bonding between the fines and the fibers versus physical retention was characterized in the pulp suspension. For the first time the respective parts in the interaction of hydrogen bonds and mechanical associations were demonstrated and quantified. The amount of H-bonded fresh fines exceeded that of dead fines by more than 30 %. The results revealed that, for both types, the amount of H-bonded fines reached a threshold, independently of the proportion of fines added to the fibers. Addition of fines significantly affected the porosity of papers, fresh fines decreasing porosity more readily than dead fines. All the results are convergent to indicate that fresh fines penetrate more evenly and more deeply into the fiber network and induce better bonding that produces a closure of the fiber mat structure. They also demonstrate that incorporating an optimal proportion of fresh cellulose fines in fiber networks can bring significant improvement to the final composite material. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9693-5 Authors Jean-Paul Joseleau, Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV), CNRS UPR 5301, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France Valérie Chevalier-Billosta, Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV), CNRS UPR 5301, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France Katia Ruel, Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV), CNRS UPR 5301, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Cellulose whiskers were prepared from wood- and cotton-based microcrystalline cellulose and dried by two methods: freeze-drying or air-drying. The effect of drying method on the properties and structure of the whiskers were studied. Furthermore, the influence of the source of cellulose on the nanoscale structure was investigated. Drying method was observed to slightly influence the thermal stability of cellulose whiskers, whereas the char residue varied significantly depending on the drying process performed. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to examine the crystallinity and nanoscale structure of the dried whiskers. It was observed that the crystal structure and crystallinity of cellulose whiskers remained during all treatments, whereas their nanoscale structure was significantly influenced by drying method, neutralization, and source of cellulose. Relationships between thermal behavior and nanoscale structure were reported and discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9695-3 Authors Pirita Rämänen, Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Paavo A. Penttilä, Division of Materials Physics, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Kirsi Svedström, Division of Materials Physics, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Sirkka Liisa Maunu, Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 55, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Ritva Serimaa, Division of Materials Physics, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Enhancing the effectiveness of a laccase–TEMPO treatment on sisal pulp by increasing pulp consistency was for the first time found to increase the biorefining potential of this enzyme–mediator system. The operating conditions used were those previously found to maximize oxidative functionalization and paper strength. Prior to the enzyme treatment, the pulp was refined at a variable intensity (0, 3,000 and 4,500 revolutions) in order to ascertain whether the increased surface area would lead to enhanced functionalization and boost the refining effect as a result. Increasing pulp consistency increased the contents in aldehyde and carboxyl groups by 130% and 94%, respectively. Also, it resulted in more marked reduction of pulp viscosity during the enzyme treatment, especially at a high refining intensity; this had a detrimental effect on fibre strength and significantly reduced tear strength in the refined pulp. Oxidized pulp exhibited a considerably increased water retention value with respect to the initial pulp, particularly after refining. Dry tensile index was increased by 21, 18 and 12%, and burst index by 23, 16 and 13% at 0, 3,000 and 4,500 rev, respectively, by the laccase–TEMPO treatment as a result of increased inter-fibre hydrogen bonding offsetting the loss of fibre strength, an effect that can provide substantial savings in refining energy. Based on the results, a laccase–TEMPO treatment is an enzymatic booster of mechanical refining with the added advantages of providing unaltered drainability and increased air permeability. The most salient effect of the laccase–TEMPO treatment was an increase in wet tensile strength (by 160, 553 and 588% at 0, 3,000 and 4,500 rev, respectively) that can be ascribed to inter-fibre covalent bonding through hemiacetal linkages promoted by aldehyde groups. The improvement was much greater than that obtained at a lower consistency under identical conditions. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9686-4 Authors Elisabetta Aracri, Textile and Paper Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Colom 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain Teresa Vidal, Textile and Paper Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Colom 11, 08222 Terrassa, Spain Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Bionanocomposites with improved properties based on two microbial polysaccharides, pullulan and bacterial cellulose, were prepared and characterized. The novel materials were obtained through a simple green approach by casting water-based suspensions of pullulan and bacterial cellulose and characterized by TGA, RDX, tensile assays, SEM and AFM. The effect of the addition of glycerol, as a plasticizer, on the properties of the materials was also evaluated. All bionanocomposites showed considerable improvement in thermal stability and mechanical properties, compared to the unfilled pullulan films, evidenced by the significant increase in the degradation temperature (up to 40 °C) and on both Young’s modulus and tensile strength (increments of up to 100 and 50%, for films without glycerol and up to 8,000 and 7,000% for those plasticized with glycerol). Moreover, these bionanocomposite films are highly translucent and could be labelled as sustainable materials since they were prepared entirely from renewable resources and could find applications in areas as organic electronics, dry food packaging and in the biomedical field. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9673-9 Authors Eliane Trovatti, CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Susana C. M. Fernandes, CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Laurent Rubatat, IPREM/EPCP, UMR 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Pau, France Carmen S. R. Freire, CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Armando J. D. Silvestre, CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Carlos Pascoal Neto, CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    We report a novel cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine (CoPc) functionalized nanomaterial by spacer-arm immobilization of CoPc onto cellulose nanofiber mats. The spacer-arm was attached through the reaction of tetraethylenepentamine with oxidized cellulose nanofiber mats. CoPc was then covalently immobilized onto the spacer-arm using glutaraldehyde. The functionalization processes on the nanofiber mats were monitored by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This CoPc functionalized nanomaterial (CoPc-spacer-NM) was used for decoloration of reactive dye wastewater. Incorporation of the spacer-arm resulted in enhanced decoloration with respect to directly immobilized CoPc onto the cellulose nanofiber mats (CoPc-NM). Compared with CoPc-NM, CoPc-spacer-NM shows much higher adsorption capacity when conducted under acidic conditions, which enhances the catalytic oxidation rate of reactive dye when H 2 O 2 was used as an oxidant. Reactive dye wastewater can also be efficiently decolorized by the CoPc-spacer-NM/H 2 O 2 system under basic conditions, despite a relatively weak adsorption capacity. Electron paramagnetic resonance results suggested that the catalytic oxidation process involves the formation and reaction of hydroxyl radicals. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the main products of the catalytic oxidation of reactive red X-3B were biodegradable aliphatic acids, such as oxalic acid, malonic acid and maleic acid. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9701-9 Authors Shi-Liang Chen, MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Xiao-Jun Huang, MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Zhi-Kang Xu, MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    The current paper reports on an investigation of the kinetics of chitosan deacetylation by chitin deacetylase isolated from Absidia orchidis vel coerulea . The reaction rate was correlated with the concentration of GlcNHAc units of the polymer. It is shown that the process follows the Michaelis–Menten mechanism. Modification of the Michaelis–Menten equation by introducing the activity of the enzyme instead of its concentration was tested and found to give a better approximation to the experimental data than the original Michaelis–Menten model. Parameters for both the original and the modified Michaelis–Menten equations are also proposed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 363-369 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9650-3 Authors Malgorzata M. Jaworska, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Warynskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239 Journal Volume Volume 19 Journal Issue Volume 19, Number 2

Description:    In the present study the effect of relative humidity (RH) during spin-coating process on the structural characteristics of cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate phthalate (C-A-P), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB) films was investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry and contact angle measurements. All polymer solutions were prepared in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is a good solvent for all cellulose esters, and used for spin-coating at RH of (35 ± 5)%, (55 ± 5)% or (75 ± 5)%. The structural features were correlated with the molecular characteristics of each cellulose ester and with the balance between surface energies of water and THF and interface energy between water and THF. CA, CAB, CMCAB and C-A-P films spin-coated at RH of (55 ± 5)% were exposed to THF vapor during 3, 6, 9, 60 and 720 min. The structural changes on the cellulose esters films due to THF vapor exposition were monitored by means of AFM and ellipsometry. THF vapor enabled the mobility of cellulose esters chains, causing considerable changes in the film morphology. In the case of CA films, which are thermodynamically unstable, dewetting was observed after 6 min exposure to THF vapor. On the other hand, porous structures observed for C-A-P, CAB and CMCAB turned smooth and homogeneous after only 3 min exposure to THF vapor. Content Type Journal Article Pages 443-457 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9654-z Authors Leandro S. Blachechen, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil Marcela A. Souza, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil Denise F. S. Petri, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239 Journal Volume Volume 19 Journal Issue Volume 19, Number 2

Description:    Powder and fiber diffraction patterns were calculated for model cellulose crystallites with chains 20 glucose units long. Model sizes ranged from four chains to 169 chains, based on cellulose Iβ coordinates. They were subjected to various combinations of energy minimization and molecular dynamics (MD) in water. Disorder induced by MD and one or two layers of water had small effects on the relative intensities, except that together they reduced the low-angle scattering that was otherwise severe enough to shift the 1 - 1   0 peak. Other shifts in the calculated peaks occurred because the empirical force field used for MD and minimization caused the models to have small discrepancies with the experimental intermolecular distances. Twisting and other disorder induced by minimization or MD increased the breadth of peaks by about 0.2–0.3° 2-θ. Patterns were compared with experimental results. In particular, the calculated fiber patterns revealed a potential for a larger number of experimental diffraction spots to be found for cellulose from some higher plants when crystallites are well-oriented. Either that, or further understanding of those structures is needed. One major use for patterns calculated from models is testing of various proposals for microfibril organization. Content Type Journal Article Pages 319-336 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9652-1 Authors Yoshiharu Nishiyama, Centre de Recherche sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV), Joseph Fourier University of Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France Glenn P. Johnson, United States Department of Agriculture, Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC), 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA Alfred D. French, United States Department of Agriculture, Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC), 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239 Journal Volume Volume 19 Journal Issue Volume 19, Number 2

Description:    Four corewood types were examined from sapling trees of two clones of Pinus radiata grown in a glasshouse. Trees were grown either straight to produce normal corewood, tilted at 45° from the vertical to produce opposite corewood and compression corewood, or rocked to produce flexure corewood. Mean cellulose microfibril angle of tracheid walls was estimated by X-ray diffraction and longitudinal swelling measured between an oven dry and moisture saturated state. Lignin and acetyl contents of the woods were measured and the monosaccharide compositions of the cell-wall polysaccharides determined. Finely milled wood was analysed using solution-state 2D NMR spectroscopy of gels from finely milled wood in DMSO- d 6 /pyridine- d 5 . Although there was no significant difference in cellulose microfibril angle among the corewood types, compression corewood had the highest longitudinal swelling. A lignin content 〉32 % and a galactosyl residue content 〉6 % clearly divided severe compression corewood from the other corewood types. Relationships could be drawn between lignin content and longitudinal swelling, and between galactosyl residue content and longitudinal swelling. The 2D NMR spectra showed that the presence of H-units in lignin was exclusive to compression corewood, which also had a higher (1 → 4)-β- d -galactan content, defining a unique composition for that corewood type. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-20 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9697-1 Authors Maree Brennan, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand J. Paul McLean, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Clemens M. Altaner, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand John Ralph, Department of Biochemistry, DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative, Madison, WI, USA Philip J. Harris, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    Because benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and ethanol are important contaminants present in Brazilian gasoline, it is essential to develop technology that can be used in the bioremediation of gasoline-contaminated aquifers. This paper evaluates the performance of a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass (HAIB) reactor fed with water containing gasoline constituents under denitrifying conditions. Two HAIB reactors filled with polyurethane foam matrices (5 mm cubes, 23 kg/m 3 density and 95 % porosity) for biomass attachment were assayed. The reactor fed with synthetic substrate containing protein, carbohydrates, sodium bicarbonate and BTEX solution in ethanol, at an Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 13.5 h, presented hydrocarbon removal efficiencies of 99 % at the following initial concentrations: benzene 6.7 mg/L, toluene 4.9 mg/L, m -xylene and p -xylene 7.2 mg/L, ethylbenzene 3.7 mg/L, and nitrate 60 mg N/L. The HAIB reactor fed with gasoline-contaminated water at an HRT of 20 h showed hydrocarbon removal efficiencies of 96 % at the following initial concentrations: benzene, 4.9 mg/L; toluene, 7.2 mg/L; m -xylene, 3.7 mg/L; and nitrate 400 mg N/L. Microbiological observations along the length of the HAIB reactor fed with gasoline-contaminated water confirmed that in the first segment of the reactor, denitrifying metabolism predominated, whereas from the first sampling port on, the metabolism observed was predominantly methanogenic. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9585-2 Authors Rogers Ribeiro, Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia de Alimentos, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil Ivana Ribeiro de Nardi, Centro Universitário Central Paulista, São Carlos, Brazil Bruna Soares Fernandes, Laboratório de Processos Biológicos, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil Eugenio Foresti, Laboratório de Processos Biológicos, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil Marcelo Zaiat, Laboratório de Processos Biológicos, Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    A genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) capable of simultaneously degrading organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides was constructed for the first time by display of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) on the cell surface of a hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading Sphingobium japonicum UT26. The GEM could potentially be used for removing the two classes of pesticides that may be present in mixtures at contaminated sites. A surface anchor system derived from the truncated ice nucleation protein (INPNC) from Pseudomonas syringae was used to target OPH onto the cell surface of UT26, reducing the potential substrate uptake limitation. The surface localization of INPNC–OPH fusion was verified by cell fractionation, western blot, proteinase accessibility, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the functionality of the surface-exposed OPH was demonstrated by OPH activity assays. Surface display of INPNC–OPH fusion (82 kDa) neither inhibited cell growth nor affected cell viability. The engineered UT26 could degrade parathion as well as γ-HCH rapidly in minimal salt medium. The removal of parathion and γ-HCH by engineered UT26 in sterile and non-sterile soil was also studied. In both soil samples, a mixture of parathion (100 mg kg −1 ) and γ-HCH (10 mg kg −1 ) could be degraded completely within 15 days. Soil treatment results indicated that the engineered UT26 is a promising multifunctional bacterium that could be used for the bioremediation of multiple pesticide-contaminated environments. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10532-012-9587-0 Authors Xiangyu Cao, School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036 China Chao Yang, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Ruihua Liu, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Qiang Li, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Wei Zhang, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Jianli Liu, School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036 China Cunjiang Song, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Chuanling Qiao, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China Ashok Mulchandani, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    Xylans, an important sub-class of hemicelluloses, represent a largely untapped resource for new renewable materials derived from biomass. As with other carbohydrates, nanocellulose reinforcement of xylans is interesting as a route to new bio-materials. With this in mind, birch wood xylan was combined with nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and films were cast with and without glycerol, sorbitol or methoxypolyethylene glycol (MPEG) as plasticizers. Microscopy revealed some NFC agglomeration in the composite films as well as a layered nanocellulose structure. Equilibrium moisture content in plasticized films increased with glycerol content but was independent of xylan:NFC ratio in unplasticized films. Sorbitol- and MPEG-plasticized films showed equilibrium moisture contents of approximately 10 wt% independent of plasticizer content. Tensile testing revealed increases in tensile strength with increased NFC content in the xylan:NFC composition range from 50:50 to 80:20 and plasticizer addition generally provided less brittle films. The oxygen permeability of unplasticized xylan-NFC films fell into a range which was similar to that for previously measured pure NFC films and was statistically independent of the xylan:NFC ratio. Water vapor permeability values of 1.9–2.8·10 −11  g Pa −1  m −1  s −1 were found for unplasticized composite films, but these values were significantly reduced in the case of films plasticized with 10–40 wt% sorbitol. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9764-7 Authors Natanya M. L. Hansen, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Thomas O. J. Blomfeldt, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Mikael S. Hedenqvist, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden David V. Plackett, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239

Description:    This study demonstrated the potential of simultaneously recovering cellulosic solid residues (CSR) and producing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by strong sulfuric acid hydrolysis to minimize cellulose loss to near zero. A set of slightly milder acid hydrolysis conditions than that considered as “optimal” were used to significantly minimize the degradation of cellulose into soluble sugars that cannot be economically recovered, but resulted in CSR that is easily recoverable through conventional centrifuge. It was found that the window for simultaneous recoveries of CSR and producing high yield CNC in strong acid hydrolysis was extremely narrow. However, we achieved significant CSR yield with near zero cellulose loss but without sacrificing CNC yield compared with that obtained at “optimal condition”. The resultant CSR contains sulfate ester groups that facilitated subsequent mechanical nano-fibrillation to cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), a potential high value nanocellulosic material for a variety of applications. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10570-012-9765-6 Authors Q. Q. Wang, State Key Lab of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China J. Y. Zhu, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA R. S. Reiner, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA S. P. Verrill, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA U. Baxa, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA S. E. McNeil, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Advanced Technology Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA Journal Cellulose Online ISSN 1572-882X Print ISSN 0969-0239