Biomass pretreatment-derived degradation compounds, such as furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural (HMF),inhibit the growth of fermentation microorganisms that utilize biomass to produce biofuels and chemicals. Here we report that manganese(III) can degrade furfural and HMF, making them less toxic to microorganisms. Treatment with manganese(III) reduced furfural and HMF concentrations in a dose-dependent...
The research revolves around membrane-assisted electrolysis to recover caustic soda from alkali processing. This research began with the lab having no experience in electrochemistry and thus conducting initial experiments to begin to understand electrochemical systems. The lab then looked at both gas production and anodic fouling behavior. The lab then...
Flour aging is thought to occur naturally during storage of wheat flour. In soft-wheat it is hypothesized that aging may increase water absorption properties of the flour. The aim of this study was to determine if the absorption capacity of flour changes as a response to flour aging. Absorption was...
A low, but significant, fraction of the carbohydrate portion of herbaceous biomass may be composed of fructose/fructosyl-containing components (“fructose equivalents”); such carbohydrates include sucrose, fructo-oligosaccharides, and fructans. Standard methods used for the quantification of structural-carbohydrate-derived neutral monosaccharide-equivalents in biomass are not particularly well suited for the quantification of fructose equivalents...
Cereal and commercial grass-seed straws are abundant plant biomass materials that are currently being considered for application in industrial processes aimed at the production of biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals. The carbohydrate fraction of these straws is of particular interest in this context due to its chemical functionality and relative ease...