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Full-Text Articles in Forest Sciences

Characterization Of Lignin Structural Variability And The Associated Application In Genome Wide Association Studies, Nathan D. Bryant Dec 2023

Characterization Of Lignin Structural Variability And The Associated Application In Genome Wide Association Studies, Nathan D. Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations

Poplar (Populus sp.) is a promising biofuel feedstock due to advantageous features such as fast growth, the ability to grow on marginal land, and relatively low lignin content. However, there is tremendous variability associated with the composition of biomass. Understanding this variability, especially in lignin, is crucial to developing and implementing financially viable, integrated biorefineries. Although lignin is typically described as being comprised of three primary monolignols (syringyl, guaiacyl, p-hydroxyphenyl), it is a highly irregular biopolymer that can incorporate non-canonical monolignols. It is also connected by a variety of interunit linkages, adding to its complexity. Secondary cell wall …


Investigation Of Interactions Between 1,3 Dialkyl Imidazolium Ionic Liquids And Lignocellulosic Polymers, Aparna Annamraju May 2021

Investigation Of Interactions Between 1,3 Dialkyl Imidazolium Ionic Liquids And Lignocellulosic Polymers, Aparna Annamraju

Doctoral Dissertations

Lignocellulosic biomass is a potential energy source for fuels, chemicals and materials production in a sustainable manner. A network of covalent and non-covalent bonds between the three main polymers of biomass, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, results in a compact structure that is resistant to chemical and biological attacks and therefore challenging for the efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been reported to disrupt the bonds between these polymers and dissolve biomass at temperatures below 100 ˚C. Research through the years has shown that biomass pretreatment with IL brings out the selective dissolution of biomass polymers and …


Nanoscaled Cellulose And Its Carbonaceous Material: Application And Local Structure Investigation, Yujie Meng Aug 2015

Nanoscaled Cellulose And Its Carbonaceous Material: Application And Local Structure Investigation, Yujie Meng

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, cellulose nanocrystals three-dimensional morphology, size distribution, and the crystal structure were statistically and quantitatively investigated. Lognormal distribution was identified as the most likely for cellulose nanocrystals’ size distribution. Height and width dimensions were shown to decrease toward the ends from the midpoint of individual CNCs, implying a spindle-like shape. XRD analysis of crystallite size accompanied with TEM and AFM measurements revealed that the cross-sectional dimensions of individual switchgrass CNC were either rectangular or elliptical shape, with an approximately 3~5 nm [nanometer] lateral element length range. A sponge-like carbon aerogel from microfibril cellulose with high porosity, ultra-low density, …