Search Results (10,669)

Lodging is a major constraint to rice productivity and grain quality. The mechanical strength of basal internodes, particularly bending resistance (BDR), is a critical determinant of lodging resistance. In this study, we evaluated the BDR of the third and fourth basal internodes (BDR3 and BDR4) in a diverse panel of 340 rice accessions. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three QTLs significantly associated with BDR3, which were defined and designated as qBDR1, qBDR4, and qBDR5. Further analysis revealed that OsWRKY102 on qBDR1 was identified as a key candidate gene. Haplotype analysis revealed distinct allelic variations between subspecies, with the elite haplotypes (Hap.1 and Hap.4) contributing to superior lodging resistance, while Hap.2 was predominantly found in lodging-susceptible Japonica accessions. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of OsWRKY102 in the ZH11 background resulted in a significant reduction of more than 50% in both BDR3 and BDR4 compared to the wild type. Detailed phenotypic characterization of the oswrky102 mutants revealed a substantial decrease in cellulose content and culm diameter, accompanied by an increase in culm wall thickness. These findings demonstrate that OsWRKY102 maintains culm mechanical strength by promoting radial expansion and cellulose accumulation. Biomechanical analysis further suggests that culm diameter and cellulose content are more critical for bending strength than wall thickness. Our results elucidate the regulatory role of OsWRKY102 in coordinating culm morphology and cell wall composition, providing a valuable genetic target for molecular breeding of high-yielding, lodging-resistant rice varieties. Full article

To address the limitation of insufficient mechanical strength and short service life in biodegradable bamboo fiber mulch film (BFM) replacing plastic film in agriculture, this study applied a biochemical method to make bamboo fiber and used bacterial cellulose (BC) as a natural nanoscale reinforcing agent to fabricate high-performance bacterial cellulose bamboo fiber mulch film (BC-BFM). The physical and mechanical properties, chemical structure, seed germination and degradation behavior performance of BC-BFM were characterized. Results demonstrated the structural compactness and homogeneity of the BC-BFM were improved markedly with the increase in BC addition and BC formed a 3D nanofibrillar network that effectively bridged inter-fiber voids. The tensile, burst and tear indexes of BC-BFM all significantly rose with BC addition. Notably, compared to plastic film and BFM, BC-BFM exhibited a good effect on mung bean seed germination and the best growth speed was at 5% BC addition. Furthermore, the degradation test showed that the degradation rate of BC-BFM within 90 d was three times less than that of BFM and service life was similar to plastic film. This showed that it was a promising method to prepare biodegradable high-quality BFM through biochemical preparation of bamboo fiber and BC nanocellulose reinforcement. This method markedly enhanced the mechanical performance and durability of BC-BFM, providing a feasible technical path for the development of biodegradable high-performance green agricultural covering materials with long service life. Full article

Benefiting from their outstanding porosity, considerable specific surface area, and natural flexibility, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)/MOF materials have emerged as competitive candidates for advanced flexible energy storage devices. However, conventional CNFs/MOFs aerogels or films often suffer from poor recoverability under compression, bending, and folding, accompanied by severe plastic deformation that compromises the cycling and structural stability of devices. To address this issue, we report a rationally designed flexible PU/CNFs/ZIF-8/PANI composite foam with an interconnected micro-mesoporous structure. Using polyurethane foam as a soft substrate and CNFs/ZIF-8 as building blocks, the composite was fabricated through a combined strategy of impregnation, in situ ZIF-8 growth, hot-pressing, and in situ aniline polymerization with simultaneous etching of the ZIF-8. The incorporation of carboxylated CNFs enhances the hydrophilicity of the PU skeleton. This, in combination with the hot-pressed framework, establishes an interconnected 3D network, thereby effectively preventing the agglomeration of active materials. Meanwhile, the hierarchical pores derived from the sacrificial ZIF-8 template provide abundant electroactive sites, accelerate ion transport, and facilitate high PANI loading. By virtue of this synergistic architectural effect, the resultant electrode achieves a high specific capacitance of 449 F/g at 0.2 A/g, with 97% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 5 A/g. Furthermore, the composite foam demonstrates excellent mechanical flexibility, with a tensile strength of 0.87 MPa and an elongation at break of 230%. This work offers a feasible approach for developing high-performance flexible supercapacitors and provides novel perspectives for the rational design of portable energy storage devices. Full article

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from hardwood papers are associated with cellulose fibers, paper fillers, and the manufacturing process used. Volatiles emitted from samples of office (printing and writing) papers from various brands and countries were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and an electronic nose (e-nose) based on piezoelectric quartz crystals. Dodecanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester (isopropyl dodecanoate) and nonanal have shown to be the dominant compounds in most of the samples analyzed, regardless of the pulpwood used in paper manufacturing: Eucalyptus globulus, acacia, and birch. 3-Hydroxybutanone was detected only in Spanish papers, suggesting it as a potential marker. Additionally, the content in acetic acid enables the identification of recycled paper. Full article

The structure collapse and performance degradation caused by traditional air-drying technology often hinder the practical application of bio-based xerogels as absorbent pads. In this study, chitosan (CS) and different types of polyanions (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA), hyaluronic acid (HA), pectin (PT) and xanthan gum (XG)) in different proportions were used to prepare an xerogel resistant to atmospheric pressure air drying collapse, and its potential as an absorption pad was systematically evaluated. The results showed that among all the treatments, CS/CMC xerogel at an optimal mass ratio of 1:3 demonstrated superior comprehensive properties. It exhibited minimal shrinkage (p < 0.05) and high porosity, coupled with an exceptional water absorption capacity (140% higher than CS/PT) and hardness (96% higher than CS/SA and CS/HA). FTIR and XRD revealed that strong electrostatic interactions and potential amide bond formation between CS and CMC resulted in a dense yet homogeneous network with low crystallinity. SEM imaging further corroborated a uniform thin-walled porous structure. This stable network contributed to high toughness, of CS/CMC significantly surpassing the brittle CS/XG and CS/PT xerogels (p < 0.05). CS/CMC xerogel is an ideal absorbent material with high absorption, stability, and controllable structure. Full article

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)–boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) composite separators have been widely investigated; however, many demonstrations rely on BNNT pretreatment or multistep processing to secure dispersion and integration. HwBKP-derived CNF separators (HCNF), based on an enzymatically pretreated and turbulence-flow nanomill processed CNF suspension, were combined with BNNTs without pretreatment to fabricate BNNT-incorporated composite membranes (HBNT-05 and HBNT-10) via a simple stirring–filtration–drying route. The CNF suspension and membranes were characterized by fibril image analysis, SEM, AFM, FTIR, and XRD, together with wettability and surface free-energy measurements, to examine BNNT-loading-dependent changes in separator structure and surface microtexture. When evaluated in NCM811||Li half-cells, the BNNT-incorporated membranes exhibited composition-dependent electrochemical performance trends relative to the BNNT-free CNF membrane, while the commercial polyolefin reference remained favorable at the highest tested C-rate. These results suggest that the present fabrication route enables effective BNNT incorporation without BNNT pretreatment under the studied conditions, providing a practical strategy to tune biomass-derived CNF membranes for energy-storage applications. Full article

Mechanical pretreatment techniques are essential for overcoming lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrance in emerging biorefineries. This review critically synthesizes advances from 2020 to 2025 across fundamental mechanisms, hybrid technologies, energy efficiency, Life Cycle Assessment, and industrial scalability. The analysis reveals that effective pretreatment targets supramolecular modification—defect generation in cellulose crystallites and the creation of reactive sites—beyond simple particle size reduction. Impact–shear regimes prove most effective for fibrous materials. Hybrid approaches are examined: mechanocatalysis enables solvent-free depolymerization, while mechanoenzymatic technologies achieve hydrolysis without bulk water, though enzyme denaturation under mechanical stress remains unresolved. Energy consumption is the primary upscaling barrier, with Life Cycle Assessment identifying electricity use as the dominant environmental hotspot and emphasizing burden per unit of final product as the critical metric. Technology Readiness Level assessment provides a strategic framework: continuous extruders and mills are industrially mature for bulk applications, while high-intensity batch devices are suited for high-value coproducts. A research agenda prioritizing mechanistic understanding, hybrid process engineering, feedstock diversification, and embedded sustainability assessment is proposed. Full article

The prolonged low temperature in cold regions significantly inhibits the initiation of straw composting and lignocellulose degradation, thereby restricting straw resource utilization. In this study, 24 cellulose-degrading strains capable of stable growth under low-temperature conditions were screened. Based on multiple indicators, including carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity, strain LDT1 was identified as the best-performing isolate under low-temperature conditions and as Paenarthrobacter nitroguajacolicus. Subsequently, an efficient mutant strain, LDT1-8, was obtained through atmospheric and room-temperature plasma mutagenesis. The CMCase activity of LDT1-8 at 10 °C increased to 74.25 U/mL, representing a 21.72% increase compared to the wild-type strain. In a straw degradation system at 10 °C, LDT1-8 significantly accelerated early-stage degradation kinetics, with straw degradation rates at 3 and 6 d being 72.72% and 38.15% higher than those of the wild-type strain, respectively. Multi-enzyme profiling further indicated enhanced activities of multiple lignocellulose-degrading enzymes at low temperatures, accompanied by a partial shift in the optimal temperature of some enzymes (e.g., laccase) toward lower temperatures. Whole-genome sequencing revealed increased gene numbers related to energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism in LDT1-8. Comparative genomic analysis suggested that mutations were mainly enriched in regulatory regions, accompanied by local structural variations. Transcriptional analyses further verified the coordinated upregulation of genes involved in cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, cold adaptation, and transcriptional and protein homeostasis processes in LDT1-8. Overall, this study provides an efficient microbial resource and a mechanistic basis for straw bioconversion in cold regions. Full article

The nanoparticles processed from non-edible crop materials and residues have evoked great use in the food and non-food industry. The diversity in agricultural waste biomass and differences in extraction techniques account for variations in end-product properties, and would require examination of waste crop types (source) to determine suitability for the production of cellulose, nanocellulose and graphene particles. This review showed that screening criteria of end-user properties include chemical composition, cellulose contents, morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, rheology, surface charge and zeta potential. The literature shows that the end-user properties vary with plant source (that is crop type) and extraction techniques. In this review, the cellulose content and percentage crystallinity are primary parameters for selecting agricultural waste biomass for the production of nanocellulose and nanofibrils. Additionally, zeta potential and surface charge can determine polymer interaction for suitability in industrial applications. Moreover, nanocellulose and biochar were found to have various industrial applications as ingredients in the production of food packaging including active packaging, rheological modifiers and thickeners. Pyrolysis is the eminent strategy for the transformation of agricultural waste into biochar-derived nanoparticles and carbon-rich materials. Full article

We report on the isolation and comprehensive genomic and biochemical characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus VP2T, a thermophilic filamentous fungus recovered from Himalayan Forest soil with exceptional lignocellulolytic capacity. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 32.1 Mb genome encoding 12,675 predicted genes, including an extensive repertoire of >300 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Notably, the genome harbors multiple auxiliary activity enzymes, including AA9-family lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases and several cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDHs), supporting oxidative–hydrolytic synergism during biomass degradation. Submerged fermentation using a cellulose–wheat bran–rice straw substrate induced high enzyme titers, including 33 U/mL endoglucanase and 131 U/mL CDH, exceeding activities commonly reported for both native and engineered fungal strains. Although exoglucanase (0.02 U/mL) and xylanase (14.22 U/mL) activities were comparatively modest, the strain VP2T demonstrated superior hydrolysis of untreated rice straw, achieving a 1.89-fold increase in saccharification efficiency relative to the commercial enzyme cocktail Cellic^® CTec2. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed extensive disruption of lignocellulosic architecture, consistent with enhanced enzyme accessibility and oxidative fiber loosening. Collectively, genomic evidence and functional assays identify A. fumigatus VP2T as a redox-optimized, moderately thermophilic biocatalyst suited for low-pH lignocellulose conversion. This study highlights the value of exploring thermophilic fungal biodiversity to discover native strains with inherent oxidative capacity, offering promising alternatives to pretreatment-intensive biorefinery processes and informing the rational development of tailored enzyme systems. Full article

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for large-scale grid storage due to inherent safety, low cost, environmental compatibility, high theoretical capacity (820 mAhg⁻¹), and suitable redox potential (−0.763 V vs. SHE). However, practical deployment is hindered by coupled challenges at the zinc anode–hydrogen evolution, dendrite growth, and corrosion/passivation, which severely limit cycle life and coulombic efficiency. This review systematically summarizes key advances in AZIB research. It first elucidates working principles and four cathode energy storage mechanisms: Zn²⁺ insertion/extraction, H⁺/Zn²⁺ co-insertion, chemical conversion, and dissolution/deposition. Second, it examines four mainstream cathodes (manganese-based, vanadium-based, Prussian blue analogs, and organic compounds), analyzing performance bottlenecks and corresponding optimization via structural modification. Third, it explores functional mechanisms of advanced separators (polymer, inorganic/ceramic composite, MOF-based, and cellulose-based) in regulating uniform Zn²⁺ deposition and suppressing dendrites. Fourth, it summarizes anode optimization strategies: artificial protective layers for interface stabilization, electrolyte additives to modulate Zn²⁺ solvation/deposition, and 3D porous structures to reduce local current density and provide nucleation sites. Finally, key scientific challenges and future directions are discussed—multi-strategy synergy, in situ characterization, practical battery construction, and sustainable technological development, offering theoretical guidance for advancing AZIBs toward large-scale applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective spanning from materials to systems, and from mechanisms to applications. Its core objective is not merely to list the types of cathode materials, but to establish a logical bridge directly connecting “key challenges” to “optimization strategies,” with a particular emphasis on the issues and solutions related to the cathode side. Full article

The inherent hydrophobicity of polyolefin separators significantly impedes rapid electrolyte wetting, thereby limiting the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries. Cellulose, as a hydroxyl-rich natural polymer, serves as an ideal material for enhancing the interface properties of separators. However, there is still a lack of systematic understanding regarding how the morphological structures of cellulose (such as granular, fibrous, or network-like forms) influence the coating structure and ion transport mechanisms. Here, three representative cellulose derivatives—microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), cellulose nanofibers (CNF), and bacterial cellulose (BC)—were selected to construct functionalized polypropylene (PP) composite separators through vacuum filtration. Experimental results demonstrate that all three cellulose coatings reduced contact angles from 50.8° to below 10°, significantly enhancing interfacial affinity. Systematic comparison reveals that cellulose configuration decisively influences separator performance: unlike the dense fiber entanglement networks formed by CNF and BC, the unique rigid granular packing structure of MCC maintains hydrophilicity while establishing more permeable ion transport pathways. Among these, MCC@PP exhibited optimal electrochemical performance, with the lithium-ion migration number increasing to 0.41 and a capacity retention rate of 88.04% after 100 cycles at 0.5 A/g. This study elucidates the relationship between cellulose configuration and the modification of separator performance, demonstrating that MCC represents a more efficient, robust, and cost-effective option for separator modification compared to complex fiber networks. Full article

Developing advanced functional materials requires the synergistic integration of nanoscale reinforcements with tailored properties. In this work, composite films of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized using a combination of solution casting, high shear homogenization, vacuum filtration, and environmentally friendly chemical reduction. The resulting CNC/CNF/rGO films exhibited a robust hierarchical structure with strong interfacial interactions, enabling exceptional mechanical properties, specifically a tensile strength of 215 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 18 GPa, alongside a continuous conductive network confirmed by frequency-independent electrical conductivity up to 30 kHz. Comprehensive dielectric characterization revealed frequency-dependent permittivity and low dielectric loss, aligning with Maxwell–Wagner theoretical predictions for heterogeneous composites. The composites also demonstrated thermal stability, with electrical conductivity increasing monotonically from 0 °C to 200 °C. These findings highlighted the CNC/CNF/rGO films’ suitability for applications in flexible electronics, electromagnetic shielding, packaging, and high-performance structural materials. Future optimization and modeling approaches, including fractional calculus, are recommended to further enhance multifunctionality and exploit the unique synergistic interactions intrinsic to nanocellulose–graphene oxide platforms. Full article

Kombucha fermentation is driven by a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY), a cellulose-rich biofilm that hosts a complex microbial consortium. While most kombucha studies focus on the liquid beverage, the SCOBY pellicle itself remains underexplored, particularly with respect to species-level microbial resolution and its intrinsic biological activities. In this study, a commercial kombucha SCOBY was characterized using full-length 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon sequencing based on Oxford Nanopore Technology, enabling species-level taxonomic resolution. In parallel, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of dried SCOBY biomass were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays), antidiabetic-related enzyme inhibition (α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4, DPP4), and anti-aging-related enzyme inhibition (tyrosinase and elastase). The SCOBY bacterial community was strongly dominated by acetic acid bacteria, with Komagataeibacter saccharivorans and Acetobacter tropicalis accounting for more than 60% of total reads, reflecting a biofilm structure optimized for cellulose production and oxidative metabolism. The yeast community showed marked unevenness, with Brettanomyces bruxellensis representing over 80% of reads, consistent with its known role in ethanol production and stress tolerance within kombucha systems. In vitro assays revealed that hydroalcoholic SCOBY extracts consistently exhibited higher biological activity than aqueous extracts across all tested assays. However, both extracts showed substantially lower potency than purified reference compounds, indicating moderate but measurable bioactivity typical of complex fermented matrices. These findings support the potential valorization of SCOBY as a fermentation-derived biomaterial and functional ingredient while underscoring the need for further chemical characterization, mechanistic studies, and biological validation beyond enzyme-based assays. Full article