*Correspondence: Ronghou Liu, Biomass Energy Engineering Research Centre, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China e-mail: [email protected] Different mass fractions (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15%) of ethyl acetate were added to bio-oil for improving its storage stability during storage at 40°C for 35 days. For different bio-oils d...

BACKGROUND Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding whether different environmental chemicals and druglike molecules impact mitochondrial function represents an initial step in predicting exposure-related toxicity and defining a possible role for such c...

BACKGROUND Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. They increase vital monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain. However, there is a need for safer natural reversible MAO inhibitors with MAO-B selectivity. Our previous studies showed that Psoralea corylifolia seeds (PCS) extract contains compounds that inhibit monoamine oxidase-B. METHOD...

An unresolved and debated aspect in the fast pyrolysis of biomass is whether the bio-oil exits as a vapor or as an aerosol from the pyrolytic reactor. The determination of the bio-oil transport phase will have direct and significant impact on the design of fast pyrolysis systems. Optimization of both the removal of particulate matter and collection of bio-oil will require this information. In a...

Mercury (Hg) is one of the main chemicals currently altering Mediterranean ecosystems. Red mullet (Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus) have been widely used as quantitative bio-indicators of chemical contamination. In this study, we reassess the ability of these species to be used as efficient bio-indicators of Hg contamination by monitoring during 18 months Hg concentrations in muscle tissue of...

BACKGROUND One of the major challenges for the present and future generations is to find suitable substitutes for the fossil resources we rely on today. Cyanobacterial carbohydrates have been discussed as an emerging renewable feedstock in industrial biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals, showing promising production rates when compared to crop-based feedstock. However, intrin...

Microwave-assisted depolymerization of black-liquor lignin in formic acid was studied, concentrating on the yield of liquid fractions as bio-oil 1 (mainly aromatic monomers) and bio-oil 2 (mainly aromatic oligomers) and the distribution of the specific compositions. Bio-oil 1 (9.69%) and bio-oil 2 (54.39%) achieved their maximum yields under 160 °C with the reaction time of 30 min. The chemical...

Bark is one of the most under-utilized types of lignocellulosic biomass in the forest industry. In this study, bark fast pyrolysis was optimized for phenols yield using response surface methodology (RSM), considering the pyrolysis temperature, gas flow rate, and biomass particle size. The bio-oil generated under optimal conditions was then characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (...

Catalytic pyrolysis is a promising thermochemical conversion route for lignocellulosic biomass that produces chemicals and fuels compatible with current, petrochemical infrastructure. Catalytic modifications to pyrolysis bio-oils are geared towards the elimination and substitution of oxygen and oxygen-containing functionalities in addition to increasing the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the final...

* The Gas-Phase Conversion of Bio-Derived 5-Methylfurfural to 2,5-Dimethylfuran Aaron Oberg and Dennis Miller *Concern over global warming and limited oil reserves has resulted in an increased interest in the production of fuels and chemicals from biomass. Currently there is considerable interest in a class of bio-derived molecules referred to as furans. Furans contain an aromatic heterocyclic ...