Background: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is being considered as a potential feedstock for bioethanol production and extensive research is ongoing to establish the optimum pretreatment conditions for switchgrass. Cellulose comprises the most abundant biopolymer in the biosphere and its crystalline/ultrastructure is considered to be related to biomass recalcitrance. This study investigates the effects of dilute acid pretreatment on ultrastructural features of switchgrass cellulose. Results: In this study, switchgrass was pretreated in a pilot-scale reactor at 190°C (0.05 g sulfuric acid per gram of dry switchgrass) with 25% total solid loading and a reactor residence of 1 min. Cellulose was isolated from the pretreated and untreated switchgrass. The impact of pretreatment on the ultrastructure of cellulose was determined by solid-state cross polarization/magic angle spinning 13C NMR spectroscopy. Switchgrass demonstrated a preferable degradation of amorphous cellulose regions during dilute acid pretrea...

Solid-state NMR characterization of switchgrass cellulose after dilute acid pretreatment

Improved production of two expansin-like proteins in Pichia pastoris and investigation of their functional properties

An isolated polypeptide is disclosed that improves the hydrolyzing capacity of a polysaccharide hydrolase such as cellulase, is capable of binding to a polysaccharide, is deficient in polysaccharide hydrolase activity, and includes a GH45 or a pollen-allergen domain. Methods of hydrolyzing polysaccharides using the isolated polypeptide are also disclosed.

Isolated polypeptide for increasing activity of polysaccharide hydrolase and methods of use

The invention discloses a paper making method for increasing the bulkiness and softness of lifepaper, and the paper making method comprises the following steps: forming water-containing fiber papermaking slurry; adding a fiber expansion protein or the fiber expansion protein and a softening agent into the fiber papermaking slurry for reaction; sending the reacted fiber papermaking slurry onto a net to filter water and form paper sheets with residual fiber solid components; and passing the paper sheets through a dehydration section and a drying section to finally produce a paper product The method adopts the fiber expansion protein for processing the slurry, and fiber is expanded by use of the e fiber expansion protein, the crystal fiber is converted into amorphous fiber, internal interspace of the fiber is increased, fluffing purpose can be achieved, the adsorption of the chemical softening agent can be increased, and the softness and hand feeling can be increased The fiber expansion protein is prepared by fermentation, and is green and safe, and compared with a conventional chemical softening agent, the fiber expansion protein has no negative effect on the human body and the environment; and the fiber expansion protein has very important significance to the development of production of the lifepaper to high-end and green products

Paper making method for increasing bulkiness and softness of lifepaper

The present invention relates to a phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition, a hydrogen-generating spray device for skin care including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition, a hydrogen-generating spray device for skin care including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition, as a mixture of about 95 to 98% by weight of water, about 1 to 3% by weight of an undiluted phytoncide solution, about 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of gamma-poly L-glutamic acid, about 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of chitosan, about 0.1 to 2% by weight of an emulsifier, and the like based on a total weight of the phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition, is mixed with hydrogen generated by a hydrogen generator to suppress increase in a collagenase in the skin caused by ultraviolet rays and simultaneously maximize the effect of suppressing melanin synthesis by ultraviolet rays and the effect of hydrogen capable of making active oxygen generated by the melanin synthesis harmless to the human body, and the generated hydrogen is stored in an aluminum pouch, from which the hydrogen does not leak, to allow efficient use of a phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition saturated with the hydrogen without waste of the hydrogen.

Phytoncide moisturizing liquid composition, hydrogen-generating skin care spray device comprising same, and method for preparing same

Provided is a prokaryotic expansin protein capable of expanding cellulose. The prokaryotic expansin protein performs the same function as existing plant expansin proteins. The prokaryotic expansin protein can be produced at greatly reduced cost on an industrial scale, unlike plant expansin proteins. Particularly, when lignocellulosic biomass is hydrolyzed into glucose using the prokaryotic expansin protein and cellulase, the hydrolysis rate of cellulose can be markedly increased by the cellulase, resulting in improved yield of the glucose. In actuality, the use of the prokaryotic expansin enables the production of bioenergy at low cost with a reduced amount of enzyme used. The prokaryotic expansin protein softens the textures of pulp, cotton fibers (e.g., jeans), etc. Therefore, the prokaryotic expansin protein can be used for various purposes, such as biopulping and biostoning.

A prokaryotic expansin protein for activating cellulose expansion and cellulose-degrading composition comprising the same

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prove the physiological activities of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, thereby enabling industrial use thereof.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for skin moisturizing comprising 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Cosmetic composition for skin moisturizing

Fungal Pretreatment of Lignocellulose for Enhancing the Enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis

PURPOSE: An isolated protein and a composition containing the same for enhancing polysaccharide hydrolase activity are provided to enhance hydrolysis ability and to reduce the use of hydrolase CONSTITUTION: An isolated protein enhances polysaccharide hydrolase activity and has polysaccharide binding ability The protein contains GH45(glycoside hydrolase 45) or pollen-allergen domain The polysaccharide hydrolase is cellulase, hemicellulase, alpha-amylase, glycoamylase, pectinase, xylanase, or cellobiase The GH45 domain or pollen allergen domain is isolated from expansin, expansin-like protein, or bacterial protein

Isolated protein, composition increasing activity of polysaccharide hydrolase containing the same, and method for polysaccharide hydrolysis using the same

In-Geol Choi

Papers

A prokaryotic expansin protein for activating cellulose expansion and cellulose-degrading composition comprising the same

Isolated polypeptide for increasing activity of polysaccharide hydrolase and methods of use

Cosmetic composition for skin moisturizing

Fungal Pretreatment of Lignocellulose for Enhancing the Enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis

Isolated protein, composition increasing activity of polysaccharide hydrolase containing the same, and method for polysaccharide hydrolysis using the same