Two established delignification methods employing sodium chlorite-acetic acid (SC/AA) and peracetic acid (PAA) are often used, and are reportedly highly selective. However, these reports are mostly for highly recalcitrant and unpretreated softwoods and hardwoods species, and information for less recalcitrant lignocellulosic feedstocks and pretreated biomass is scarce. Furthermore, the effects o...

Here we describe a unique process that achieves complete defluorination and decomposition of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which comprise one of the most recalcitrant and widely distributed classes of toxic pollutant chemicals found in natural environments. Photogenerated hydrated electrons derived from 3-indole-acetic-acid within an organomodified clay induce the reductive defluorination of ...

This review summarizes recent applications of nickel as a nonprecious metal catalyst in hydrodehalogenation (HDH) reactions halogenated aromatic compounds (Ar–Xs). Nickel-based HDH catalysts were developed for reductive treatment both waste containing concentrated Ar–Xs (mainly polychlorinated benzenes) and wastewater contaminated with Ar–Xs. Ni-catalyzed enables the production corresponding no...

In this review we discuss the degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by microorganisms, emphasizing the physiological, biochemical, and genetic basis of the biodegradation of aliphatic, aromatic, and polycyclic compounds. Many environmentally important xenobiotics are halogenated, especially chlorinated. These compounds are manufactured and used as pesticides, plasticizers, paint and printing-...

Accurate quantification of carbohydrate content of biomass is crucial for many bio-refining applications. The standardised NREL two stage complete acid hydrolysis protocol was evaluated for its suitability towards seaweeds, as the protocol was originally developed for lignocellulosic feedstocks. The compositional differences between the major polysaccharides in seaweeds and terrestrial plants, ...

Adsorption using activated carbon and ion-exchange is used to remove a range of organic compounds and ammonia respectively from treated wastewaters. Such treatment may follow secondary biological treatment to reduce BOD. Organic nitrogen (e.g. proteins) is degraded to ammonia and residual organic compounds may also be present following secondary treatment. Residual organic compounds may be thos...

Over the long term, soil carbon (C) storage is partly determined by decomposition rate of carbon that is slow to decompose (i.e., recalcitrant C). According to thermodynamic theory, decomposition rates of recalcitrant C might differ from those of non-recalcitrant C in their sensitivities to global warming. We decomposed leaf litter in a warming experiment in Alaskan boreal forest, and measured ...