Biomass

In this study, barley biomass from the brewing industry was used to obtain fraction-rich arabinoxylans, polysaccharides that, due to their chemical and structural properties, can form films. The effect of adding three plasticizers at a concentration of 20% w/w on the mechanical, optical, and barrier properties of the thermoplasticized films was evaluated. Tensile strength (TS) and percent elongation (%E) tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and water vapor permeability (WVP) were evaluated by gravimetric methods, the ΔE and color index (CI) were calculated with the chromatic coordinates of the CIE-L*a*b system, and structural morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR-ATR). The results show that plasticizers decrease the TS values and increase the %E, obtaining more flexible films compared to films made without plasticizers. The structural characteristics of plasticizers directly influence the CI of films. The values corresponding to %E and PVA were higher in the arabinoxylan films thermoplasticized with glycerol. Films’ stability was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that there are significant differences when the films are coated with polylactic acid.

This paper explores the complex interrelationships between biomass composition, thermochemical conversion pathways, carbon yield and other characteristics in order to expand the knowledge for biomass conversion processes and adapt them to specific requirements. A comprehensive characterization, chemical and thermal analysis of peach stone biomass, was performed. Thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and low-temperature nitrogen sorption were also carried out in order to establish the composition and textural characteristics of the precursor material and obtained product. Carbon adsorbents were obtained from the studied biomass precursor under different conditions via one-step hydro-pyrolysis process by using steam activation at 800 °C. After research was conducted, it was established that cellulose is the main component, which influences the quantity and quality of the obtained adsorbent. The high content of hemicellulose reveals peach stones as a good candidate, especially for hydrothermal carbonization. High cellulose content (40%) in the biomass precursor is a prerequisite for the formation of porous texture in carbon adsorbent during hydro-pyrolysis. It was also shown that the carbon yield (26.70%) can be predicted and is highly dependent on the precursor composition. These results highlight the potential of peach stones as a valuable precursor for the production of sustainable, high-performance carbon adsorbents for environmental remediation.

This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, emphasizing how chemical composition, structural features, inhibitory compounds, and process configurations collectively influence the conversion of structural polysaccharides into fermentable sugars. Variability among herbaceous, woody, and residual biomasses results in differences in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin content, and crystallinity, which strongly affect enzyme accessibility. The review discusses key inhibitory mechanisms, including nonproductive cellulase adsorption onto lignin, interference from phenolic derivatives and pretreatment by-products, and inhibition caused by accumulating mono- and oligosaccharides. Process configurations such as SHF, SSF, PSSF, and consolidated bioprocessing are compared, with SSF often achieving superior performance by mitigating end-product inhibition. The manuscript also highlights the growing relevance of computational modeling and simulation tools, which support kinetic prediction, the evaluation of transport limitations, and the optimization of operating conditions in high-solids systems. Additionally, recent advances in artificial intelligence are presented as powerful approaches for modeling nonlinear hydrolysis behavior, estimating kinetic parameters, identifying rate-limiting steps, and improving predictive accuracy in complex bioprocesses. Overall, the integration of experimental insights with advanced modeling, simulation, and AI-based strategies is essential for overcoming current limitations and enhancing the technical feasibility and industrial competitiveness of lignocellulosic bioconversion.