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Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

The Self-Assembly of Lignin and Its Application in Nanoparticle Synthesis: A Short Review

TLDR
This review article focuses on the self-assembly properties of lignin and their contribution to its effective utilization and valorization and the role of self- assembly towards the understanding of xylogenesis and nanoparticle synthesis.
Abstract
Lignin serves as a significant contributor to the natural stock of non-fossilized carbon, second only to cellulose in the biosphere. In this review article, we focus on the self-assembly properties of lignin and their contribution to its effective utilization and valorization. Traditionally, investigations on self-assembly properties of lignin have aimed at understanding the lignification process of the cell wall and using it for efficient delignification for commercial purposes. In recent years (mainly the last three years), an increased number of attempts and reports of technical-lignin nanostructure synthesis with controlled particle size and morphology have been published. This has renewed the interests in the self-assembly properties of technical lignins and their possible applications. Based on the sources and processing methods of lignin, there are significant differences between its structure and properties, which is the primary obstacle in the generalized understanding of the lignin structure and the lignification process occurring within cell walls. The reported studies are also specific to source and processing methods. This work has been divided into two parts. In the first part, the aggregation propensity of lignin based on type, source and extraction method, temperature, and pH of solution is discussed. This is followed by a critical overview of non-covalent interactions and their contribution to the self-associative properties of lignin. The role of self-assembly towards the understanding of xylogenesis and nanoparticle synthesis is also discussed. A particular emphasis is placed on the interaction and forces involved that are used to explain the self-association of lignin.

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Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil and Plants: Ecological Risks and Human Health Implications.

TL;DR: In this paper, a review focusing on the toxic effect of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)) and pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides) adversely influencing the agricultural ecosystem (plant and soil) and human health is presented.
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Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Microbiota and Management: A Review

TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of various agrochemicals on the soil microbial diversity and environment is reviewed, and the importance of smallholder farmers for sustainable crop protection and enhancement solutions is highlighted.
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Recent advances and challenges of inter-disciplinary biomass valorization by integrating hydrothermal and biological techniques

TL;DR: This review is presented to provide an overview of the opportunities combining both hydrothermal and biological techniques for biomass valorization, and to assess the energy balance and economic feasibility of different integrated options reported in previous studies.
Journal ArticleDOI

Lignin-Based Hydrogels: Synthesis and Applications.

TL;DR: This work describes the main methods for the preparation of lignin-based hydrogels reported in the last years, based on the chemical and/or physical interaction with polymers widely used in hydrogel formulations.
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An Overview of Strengths and Directionalities of Noncovalent Interactions: σ-Holes and π-Holes

TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the magnitudes and locations of the most positive electrostatic potential associated with σ-holes and π-holes are often approximate guides to the strengths and directions of interactions with negative sites.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials

TL;DR: The integration of agroenergy crops and biorefinery manufacturing technologies offers the potential for the development of sustainable biopower and biomaterials that will lead to a new manufacturing paradigm.
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Beyond molecules: Self-assembly of mesoscopic and macroscopic components

TL;DR: Although much of the work in self-assembly has focused on molecular components, many of the most interesting applications of self-assembling processes can be found at larger sizes (nanometers to micrometers).
Journal ArticleDOI

Rethinking the term “pi-stacking”

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review experimental and theoretical literature across several fields and conclude that the terms "pi stacking" and "pi-pi interactions" do not accurately describe the forces that drive association between aromatic molecules of the types most commonly studied in chemistry or biology laboratories.
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A review of polymer dissolution

TL;DR: In this paper, a general overview of several aspects of the dissolution of amorphous polymers is provided, including experimentally observed dissolution phenomena and mechanisms reported to this date, solubility behavior of polymers and their solvents, models used to interpret and understand polymer dissolution, and techniques used to characterize the dissolution process.
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Recent progress in understanding hydrophobic interactions

TL;DR: A review of direct force measurements between hydrophobic surfaces in aqueous solutions can be found in this article, where the authors suggest that only the short-range part of the attraction represents the true hydrophilic interaction.
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