A flexible phase-change film with thermal management and microwave absorption capabilities was developed for use in wearable devices. The film was created using a solution casting method based on a porous carbon-loaded eicosane (LP33/EI) material. LP33 served as the porous encapsulation medium, while Eicosane (EI) acted as the phase change component. The flexible substrate was a blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and bacterial cellulose nanocellulose (BC). The ultrathin film had a thickness of 0.262 mm, and LP33/EI-4 exhibited exceptional mechanical strength of 188 MPa. Testing revealed that the phase transition process had melting and crystallization enthalpies of 134.71 J/g and 126.11 J/g, respectively. The encapsulation structure effectively prevented any leakage during the phase transition process. Under simulated solar irradiation of 200 mW/cm2, LP33/EI-4 achieved a photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of 89.46 %. Additionally, the porous LP33 structure and high dielectric loss contributed to remarkable microwave absorption capabilities of -42 dB in the X-band and - 52 dB in the Ku-band. Overall, LP33/EI films demonstrated exceptional performance in thermal management, energy storage, and microwave absorption, making them an ideal choice for a variety of applications in wearable devices.

5-Azacytidine (AZ) is a DNA methylation inhibitor that has recently demonstrated potential in regulating fruit quality through exogenous application. In this study, we treated mandarin fruits for 4-day storage. Noteworthy were the induced degreening and the enhanced citrus aroma of fruits under AZ treatment, involving the promotion of chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid biosynthesis, and limonene biosynthesis. Key genes associated with these processes exhibited expression level increases of up to 123.8 times. Additionally, AZ treatment activated defense-related enzymes and altered phenylpropanoid carbon allocation towards lignin biosynthesis instead of flavonoid biosynthesis. The expression levels of lignin biosynthesis-related genes increased by nearly 100 times, leading to fortified lignin that is crucial for citrus defense against Penicillium italicum. Currently, the underlying mechanisms of such intense AZ-induced changes in gene expressions remain unclear and further research could help establish AZ treatment as a viable strategy for citrus preservation.

Developing efficient metal-free catalysts for lignin valorization is essential but challenging. In this study, a cost-effective strategy is employed to synthesize a P, N co-doped carbon catalyst through hydrothermal and carbonization processes. This catalyst effectively cleaved α-O-4, β-O-4, and 4-O-5 lignin linkages, as demonstrated with model compounds. Various catalysts were prepared at different carbonization temperatures and thoroughly characterized using techniques such as XRD, RAMAN, FTIR, XPS, NH3-TPD, and HRTEM. Attributed to higher acidity, the P5NC-500 catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity, employing H2O2 as the oxidant in water. Additionally, this metal-free technique efficiently converted simulated lignin bio-oil, containing all three linkages, into valuable monomers. Density Functional Theory calculations provided insight into the reaction mechanism, suggesting substrate and oxidant activation by P-O-H sites in the P5NC-500, and by N-C-O-H in the CN catalyst. Moreover, the catalyst\'s recyclability and water utilization enhance its environmental compatibility, offering a highly sustainable approach to lignin valorization with potential applications in various industries.

The monotonicity of color type in naturally colored cottons (NCCs) has become the main limiting factor to their widespread use, simultaneously coexisting with poor fiber quality. The synchronous improvement of fiber quality and color become more urgent and crucial as the demand for sustainable development increases. The homologous gene of wild cotton Gossypium stocksii LAC15 in G. hirsutum, GhLAC15, was also dominantly expressed in the developing fibers of brown cotton XC20 from 5 DPA (day post anthesis) to 25 DPA, especially at the secondary cell wall thickening stage (20 DPA and 25 DPA). In XC20 plants with downregulated GhLAC15 (GhLAC15i), a remarkable reduction in proanthocyanidins (PAs) and lignin contents was observed. Some of the key genes in the phenylpropane and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were down-regulated in GhLAC15i plants. Notably, the fiber length of GhLAC15i plants showed an obvious increase and the fiber color was lightened. Moreover, we found that the thickness of cotton fiber cell wall was decreased in GhLAC15i plants and the fiber surface became smoother compared to that of WT. Taken together, this study revealed that GhLAC15 played an important role in PAs and lignin biosynthesis in naturally colored cotton fibers. It might mediate fiber color and fiber quality by catalyzing PAs oxidation and lignin polymerization, ultimately regulating fiber colouration and development.

The biodegradable, nontoxic, and renewable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogel has been developed into a green adsorbent. However, the weak chemical interaction limits its adsorption capability and reusability. This work incorporated lignin with complex structure and ZnO nanoparticles with photocatalytic properties into CMC hydrogel beads to improve the removal of methylene blue (MB) through chemical interaction. Scanning electron microscopic images and Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the compatibility between lignin and ZnO nanoparticles as well as the increment of active sites for dye removal. The MB adsorption on CMC hydrogel beads was more significantly affected by the temperate and initial concentration compared to contact time, pH, and adsorbent dosage. The MB adsorption capacity of CMC hydrogel was improved to 276.79 mg/g after incorporating lignin and ZnO nanoparticles. The adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, indicating chemical adsorption. After 6 cycles, the adsorption capacity was reduced by about 15 %. The UV irradiation could recover and improve MB adsorption capacity of CMC hydrogel beads containing ZnO nanoparticles due to the introduction of reactive oxygen species.

The development of productive and durable non-precious metal catalysts for the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for water splitting. Herein, a novel NiSe-FeOx heterojunction encapsulated in lignin-derived carbon layer (NiSe-FeOx@LC) was synthesized via hydrothermal self-assembly and in-situ pyrolysis. NiSe-FeOx@LC exhibited excellent OER performance with an overpotential of 265 mV at 50 mA·cm-2, a Tafel slope of 83 mV·dec-1, as well as long-term stability. Both experimental and DFT calculation results indicated that the doping of FeOx into NiSe@LC successfully optimized the dual interface structure between NiSe and FeOx, thereby promoted the d-bands orbital hybridization, that facilitated electron transfer. Besides, the carbon coating effectively protected the NiSe-FeOx components from leaching and agglomerating during the reaction. This study provides insight into the significance of lignin-derived carbon-encapsulated metallic catalyst for electrocatalytic OER process.

Turkey litter waste is lignocellulosic and keratinous, requiring prior enzymatic treatment to facilitate fiber hydrolysis and utilization by microorganisms in anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The understanding of the performance of microorganisms in AD can be facilitated through molecular biology and bioinformatics tools. This study aimed to determine the taxonomic profile and functional prediction of microbial communities in the AD of turkey litter waste subjected to enzymatic pretreatment and correlate it with operational parameters. The tests involved the use of turkey litter (T) at 25 g L-1 of volatile solids, a granular inoculum (S) (10% m/v), and the addition of cellulase (C), and pectinase (P) enzymes at four concentrations. The use of enzymes increased methane production by 19% (turkey litter, inoculum, and cellulase-TSC4) and 15% (turkey litter, inoculum, and enzymatic pectinase-TSP4) compared to the control (turkey litter and inoculum-TS), being more effective in TSC4 (667.52 mLCH4), where there was consumption of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids. The pectinase assay (TSP4) showed a methane production of 648 mLCH4 and there was the accumulation of metabolites. Cellulolytic microorganisms Bacteroides, Ruminofilibacter, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Methanosaeta were favored in TSC4. In TSP4, the predominant genus was Macellibacteroides and Methanosarcina, and genes involved in methylotrophic methanogenesis were also found (mtaB, mtmB, and mtbB). Enzymes involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis were identified in both assays (TSC4 and TSP4). Molecular tools helped to understand the metabolic routes involved in AD with enzymatic treatment, allowing the elaboration of strategies to improve the sustainable degradation of turkey litter waste.

The global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has had profoundly detrimental effects on our society. To combat this highly pathogenic virus, we turned our attention to an abundant renewable natural aromatic polymer found in wood. Through a chemical modification of Eucalyptus and Japanese cedar wood via acidic microwave solvolysis in equivolume mixture of 2 % (w/w) aqueous H2SO4, ethylene glycol, and toluene at 190 °C. Subsequently, we separated the resulting solvolysis products through extractions with toluene, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Among these products, the ethyl acetate extract from Eucalyptus wood (eEAE) demonstrated the highest inhibition effects against the novel SARS-CoV-2. We further divided eEAE into four fractions, and a hexane extract from the ethanol-soluble portion, termed eEAE3, exhibited the most substantial inhibitory rate at 93.0 % when tested at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. Analyzing eEAE3 using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that its primary components are derived from lignin. Additionally, 1H13C edited-heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that the solvolysis process cleaved major lignin interunit linkages. Considering the abundance and renewability of lignin, the lignin-derived anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent presents a promising potential for application in suppressing infections within our everyday environment.

A novel 3D nitrogen-doped porous carbon supported Fe-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles composite (Fe-Cu-N-PC) was prepared via direct pyrolysis by employing black liquor lignin as a main precursor, and it was utilized as a novel catalyst for PMS activation in degrading naphthalene. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the naphthalene degradation rate was up to 93.2% within 60 min in the Fe-Cu-N-PC/PMS system. The porous carbon framework of Fe-Cu-N-PC could facilitate the quick molecule diffusion of reactants towards the inner bimetallic nanoparticles and enriched naphthalene molecules from the solution by a specific adsorption, which increased the odds of contact between naphthalene and reactive oxygen species and improved the reaction efficiency. The quenching reaction proved that the non-free radical pathway dominated by 1O2 was the main way in naphthalene degradation, while the free radical pathway involving SO4·- and ·OH only played a secondary role. Moreover, owing to its high magnetization performance, Fe-Cu-N-PC could be magnetically recovered and maintained excellent naphthalene degradation rate after four degradation cycles. This research will offer a theoretical basis for the construction of facile, efficient, and green technologies to remediate persistent organic pollutants in the environment.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of sodium lignosulfonate (LS) as a dye adsorbent in the removal of methylene blue (MB) from water by polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration. Various parameters were evaluated, such as membrane molecular weight cut-off, pH, LS dose, MB concentration, applied pressure, and the effect of interfering ions. The results showed that the use of LS generated a significant increase in MB removal, reaching an elimination of up to 98.0 % with 50.0 mg LS and 100 mg L-1 MB. The maximum MB removal capacity was 21 g g-1 using the enrichment method. In addition, LS was reusable for up to four consecutive cycles of dye removal-elution. The removal test in a simulated liquid industrial waste from the textile industry was also effective, with a MB removal of 97.2 %. These findings indicate that LS is highly effective in removing high concentrations of MB dye, suggesting new prospects for its application in water treatment processes.