Han-Seob Jeong

Environmentally friendly wood preservatives formulated with enzymatic-hydrolyzed okara, copper and/or boron salts

Novel biocides, such as copper azole (CuAz) and ammoniacal copper quaternary (ACQ), are extensively used as substitutes for chromate copper arsenate (CCA) in wood preservation. However, the expense of these biocides has necessitated the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly wood preservatives. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness against decaying fungi of the preservatives formulated with enzymatic-hydrolyzed okara (OK), which is an organic waste produced from the manufacture of tofu, CuCl(2) (CC) and/or Na(2)B(4)O(7).10H(2)O (B). With the addition of NH(4)OH as a dissociating agent, the addition of OK facilitated the target retention of most of the OK/CC and OK/CC/B preservative formulations in wood blocks. The OK-based wood preservatives (OK-WPs) were stable against hot-water leaching. When compared with control and CC-treated wood blocks, the leached wood blocks treated with OK/CC and OK/CC/B formulations showed excellent decay resistance against both Postia placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum, especially when OK was hydrolyzed by Celluclast at a loading level of 0.1 ml/g. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) spectrometry analyses demonstrated that preservative complexes, such as OK-CC and OK-CC-B, existed in the wood blocks treated with OK/CC and OK/CC/B formulations. This study results support the potential application of OK-WPs as environmentally friendly wood preservatives capable of replacing CuAz and ACQ.

Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis conditions for extraction of pectin from rapeseed cake (Brassica napus L.) using commercial enzymes.

The aims of this study were to extract pectin from rapeseed cake (RSC) by enzymatic hydrolysis using commercial enzymes (Celluclast and Alcalase) and to investigate the effects of different reaction conditions, such as enzymatic hydrolysis time, enzyme-RSC ratio, and Celluclast-Alcalase ratio, on the degradation of RSC and pectin yield. RSC was treated using a combined extraction process that consisted of a fat removal process, enzymatic hydrolysis, and isopropanol/ethanol precipitation. After the fat removal process and enzymatic hydrolysis, defatted-RSC was suitably decomposed, and the loss of liberated reducing sugars was minimized when the hydrolysis condition reached a hydrolysis time of 270 min or an enzyme-RSC ratio of 1:50. Based on these results, various Celluclast-Alcalase ratios were applied. Alcalase led to the destruction of protein-carbohydrate complex in defatted-RSC, whereas Celluclast cleaved some linkages of carbohydrate slightly. As a result, the highest pectin yield was 6.85% at the Celluclast-Alcalase ratio of 1:4.

Levulinic acid production by two-step acid-catalyzed treatment of Quercus mongolica using dilute sulfuric acid

The objectives of this research were to produce a levulinic acid by two-step acid-catalyzed treatment of Quercus mongolica and to investigate the effect of treatment parameter (reaction temperature range: 100-230°C; sulfuric acid (SA) concentration range: 0-2%) on the levulinic acid yield. After 1st step acid-catalyzed treatment, most of the hemicellulosic C5 sugars (15.6gg/100gbiomass) were released into the liquid hydrolysate at the reaction temperature of 150°C in 1% SA; the solid fraction, which contained 53.5% of the C6 sugars, was resistant to further loss of C6 sugars. Subsequently, 2nd step acid-catalyzed treatment of the solid fractions was performed under more severe conditions. Finally, 16.5g/100g biomass of levulinic acid was produced at the reaction temperature of 200°C in 2% SA, corresponding to a higher conversion rate than during single-step treatment.

Antifungal efficacy of environmentally friendly wood preservatives formulated with enzymatic‐hydrolyzed okara, copper, or boron salts

Okara, an organic waste product obtained from soy milk production, was used with copper chloride or sodium borate to formulate new wood preservatives as a substitute for expensive wood preservatives, such as copper-azole-based preservatives and ammoniacal copper quaternary. Before formulating the preservatives, okara was hydrolyzed by enzymes (cellulase, pectinase, and protease) to augment penetration and fix the biocide salts of the preservatives into wood blocks. The preservatives were injected into wood blocks by vacuum pressure to measure the treatability of the preservatives. The treated wood blocks were placed in hot water for 3 d to measure leachability. The treatability and leachability of the preservatives were affected by the type and loading amount of enzymes and the addition of sodium borate into okara-based wood preservative formulations. The treatability and leachability of the preservatives formulated with copper chloride and okara hydrolysates were 63.38 and 3.15%, and those of the preservatives with copper chloride, okara hydrolysates, and sodium borate were 61.47 and 3.32%, respectively. Despite the hot water leaching, wood blocks treated with preservatives formulated with 2% cellulase, pectinase, and protease hydrolyzed okara, CuCl(2), and sodium borate showed only 1.98% average weight loss against Fomitopsis palustris over 12 weeks. Microscopic observation revealed how okara-based preservatives work in wood blocks. Okara has potential as a raw material for cost-effective and environmentally friendly wood preservatives.

Antifungal activity of essential oil from Cryptomeria japonica against dermatophytic fungi

본 연구에서는 표재성 진균에 의한 피부질환 개선용 소재로의 개발을 위해 삼나무 정유의 표재성·알레르기성 진균, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes (interdigitale),Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Aspergillus fumigatus에 대한 항진균 활성을 평가하여 삼나무 정유의 표재성 진균에 의한 피부질환 개선 소재로의 개발 가능성을 평가하고자 하였다. 항진균 활성 평가는 삼나무 정유의 MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) 측정과 TLC bioassay, 한천희석법을 통해 측정하였다. 또한 활성 성분의 주성분을 확인하기 위해 GC/MS 분석을 실시하였다. 삼나무 정유 crude oil의 MIC는 모든 균에서 500 ppm 이하의 농도 값을 나타냈으며, TLC bioassay를 통해 spot 1에서 항진균 효과를 확인하였다. 한천희석법을 통한 항진균 활성은 A. fumigatus를 제외한 모든 진균에 대해 삼나무 정유 crude oil의 경우,500 ppm 이상에서 100%의 활성을 나타냈고, 분획 D의 경우, 100 ppm에서도 100%의 활성을 나타냈다. TLCbioassay를 통해 항진균 활성을 나타낸 spot 1과 한천희석법을 통해 활성을 나타낸 분획 D를 GC/MS로 분석한결과 주성분은 elemol, γ-eudesmol, β-eudesmol이었다. 따라서 elemol, eudesmol 등은 표재성 진균에 의한 피부질환의 개선 소재로의 이용 가능성이 충분하다고 사료된다.

Evaluation of correlation between glucan conversion and degree of delignification depending on pretreatment strategies using Jabon Merah

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the glucan conversion rate after enzymatic hydrolysis depending on the treatment methods and conditions with changes in the chemical composition of treated solid fraction of Jabon Merah. The glucan conversion rate (17.4%) was not significantly improved after liquid hot water treatment (1st step) even though most of the hemicellulose was dissolved into liquid hydrolysate. Subsequently, dilute acid, organosolv, and peracetic acid treatment (2nd step) was conducted under various conditions to enhance glucan conversion. Among the 2nd step treatment, the glucan conversion rate of organosolv (max. 46.0%) and peracetic acid treatment (max. 65.9%) was increased remarkably through decomposition of acid-insoluble lignin (AIL). Finally, the glucan conversion rate and AIL content were highly correlated, which was revealed by the R-squared value (0.84), but inhibitory factors including cellulose crystallinity must be considered for advanced glucan conversion from highly recalcitrant biomasses, such as Jabon Merah.

Sugar and ethanol production from woody biomass via supercritical water hydrolysis in a continuous pilot-scale system using acid catalyst

The aim of this study were to efficiently produce fermentable sugars by continuous type supercritical water hydrolysis (SCWH) of Quercus mongolica at the pilot scale with varying acid catalyst loading and to use the obtained sugars for ethanol production. The SCWH of biomass was achieved in under one second (380°C, 230bar) using 0.01-0.1% H2SO4. With 0.05% H2SO4, 49.8% of sugars, including glucose (16.5% based on biomass) and xylose monomers (10.8%), were liberated from biomass. The hydrolysates were fermented with S. cerevisiae DXSP and D452-2 to estimate ethanol production. To prepare the fermentation medium, the hydrolysates were detoxified using activated charcoal and then concentrated. The ethanol yield of fermentation with S. cerevisiae DXSP was 14.1% (based on biomass). The proposed system has potential for improvement in yield through process optimization. After further development, it is expected to be a competitive alternative to traditional systems for ethanol production from woody biomass.

Changes of Furfural and Levulinic Acid Yield from Small-diameter Quercus mongolica Depending on Dilute Acid Pretreatment Conditions

본 연구에서는 국산 소경 신갈나무를 이용하여 약산 전처리를 실시하고, 당으로부터 변환된 푸르푸랄 및 레불린산의 함량 변화를 평가하였다. 약산 전처리는 반응온도(140-180℃), 반응시간(10-30분), 황산 촉매 농도(0-2%, w/w)에 따라 수행하였고, 전처리 후 액상 내 글루코오스, XMG (자일로오스 + 만노오스 + 갈락토오스), 푸르푸랄, 레불린산의 함량을 측정/분석하였다. 글루코오스는 반응온도의 상승, 반응시간과 황산 촉매 농도의 증가에 의해 그 함량이 높아져최대 16.02%까지 나타났으나, 황산 촉매 농도 2% (반응온도 170℃ 이상, 반응시간 20분 이상)에서 함량이 감소하였다. 한편, XMG 함량은 반응온도의 영향을 크게 받았고, 반응온도와 황산 촉매 농도의 증가에 따라 1.63%까지 감소하였으며, 반응시간의 증가에 의한 함량변화는 적었다. 푸르푸랄 함량은 반응온도, 반응시간, 황산 촉매 농도 증가에 따라 높아져 초기시료 중량 대비 최대 7.61% (반응온도 180℃, 반응시간 20분, 1% 황산 촉매 농도)로 나타났으나, 전처리 조건이 최대 푸르푸랄 함량 조건보다 가혹해지면서 감소하는 경향이 발생하였다. 레불린산 함량은 반응온도, 반응시간, 황산 촉매 농도가 증가함에 따라 높아졌고, 특히 반응온도 170℃ 이상에서 급격한 함량 증가를 확인하였으며, 최대 10.98% (반응온도 180℃, 반응시간 30분, 2% 황산 촉매 농도)로 나타났다. 반면 황산 촉매를 투입하지 않았을 경우 모든 반응온도, 반응시간 조건에서 푸르푸랄 및 레불린산 함량은 1% 미만으로 나타났다.

Phanerochaete chrysosporium Multienzyme Catabolic System for in Vivo Modification of Synthetic Lignin to Succinic Acid

Whole cells of the basidiomycete fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium (ATCC 20696) were applied to induce the biomodification of lignin in an in vivo system. Our results indicated that P. chrysosporium has a catabolic system that induces characteristic biomodifications of synthetic lignin through a series of redox reactions, leading not only to the degradation of lignin but also to its polymerization. The reducing agents ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol were used to stabilize the free radicals generated from the ligninolytic process. The application of P. chrysosporium in combination with reducing agents produced aromatic compounds and succinic acid as well as degraded lignin polymers. P. chrysosporium selectively catalyzed the conversion of lignin to succinic acid, which has an economic value. A transcriptomic analysis of P. chrysosporium suggested that the bond cleavage of synthetic lignin was caused by numerous enzymes, including extracellular enzymes such as lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase, and that the aromatic compounds released were metabolized in both the short-cut and classical tricarboxylic acid cycles of P. chrysosporium. In conclusion, P. chrysosporium is suitable as a biocatalyst for lignin degradation to produce a value-added product.