Catalytic Fractionation of Raw Biomass to Biochemicals and Organosolv Lignin in a Methyl Isobutyl Ketone/H₂O Biphasic System

A biphasic system, consisting of methyl isobutyl ketone and H₂O, has been achieved for a highly integrated one-pot catalytic transformation and delignification process of lignocellulosic biomass. Using SO₃H-functionalized ionic liquids as catalysts, 85.8% of bagasse can be fractionated into 71.4% water-soluble chemicals at 76.3% lignin extraction ratio, under the optimized conditions. The practicability of this biphasic system for other typical biomass sources has also been tested with high efficiency, viz., 79.6 to 91.9% lignin extraction ratio of corncob, corn stalk, rice husk, and rice straw with 56.6 to 72.8% water-soluble chemicals yield at 64.8 to 81.3% feed conversion

Autocatalytic Production of 5‑Hydroxymethylfurfural from Fructose-Based Carbohydrates in a Biphasic System and Its Purification

An efficient autocatalytic process for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from fructose-based carbohydrates has been investigated without the addition of any external catalysts in a methyl isobutyl ketone/water biphasic system, leading to elevated HMF yield through continuous extraction of HMF from an aqueous solution. The results show that both the reaction temperature and time have significant effects on fructose conversion and HMF yield; 96.8% of fructose can be converted into 73.6% of HMF with a small amount of levulinic acid and formic acid formed at a point of compromise between the reaction temperature and time (160 °C for 2 h). In addition, this autocatalytic system is suitable for other fructose-based feedstocks, such as sucrose and inulin, to achieve acceptable HMF yield. Moreover, a simple and efficient purification strategy for as-prepared HMF, viz., the NaOH neutralization method, has also been tested, achieving more than 99% of HMF recovery with more than 98% of purity correspondingly

2,5-Oxyarylation of Furans: Synthesis of Spiroacetals via Palladium-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Coupling of Boronic Acids with α‑Hydroxyalkylfurans

A protocol for the 2,5-oxyarylation of furan rings via Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of boronic acids with α-hydroxyalkylfurans is reported. This protocol provides rapid, green access to diverse biologically interesting and synthetically useful unsaturated spiroacetals from sustainable furan derivatives

Synthesis of Spiro-lactams and Polysubstituted Pyrroles via Ceric Ammonium Nitrate-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of <i>N</i>‑Furan-2-ylmethyl‑β<i>-</i>Enaminones

Spiro-lactams and polysubstituted pyrroles were synthesized by reactions of furfurylamines with ynones followed by oxidation. Specifically, the protocol involved in situ generation of <i>N</i>-furan-2-ylmethyl-β-enaminones and their subsequent oxidation by ceric ammonium nitrate (6 equiv for spiro-lactam formation, 3 equiv for pyrrole formation). This useful dearomatizing oxidation, which likely proceeds via a free-radical pathway, can be expected to extend the synthetic applications of furan and pyrrole derivatives

Synthesis of Spiro-lactams and Polysubstituted Pyrroles via Ceric Ammonium Nitrate-Mediated Oxidative Cyclization of <i>N</i>‑Furan-2-ylmethyl‑β<i>-</i>Enaminones

Spiro-lactams and polysubstituted pyrroles were synthesized by reactions of furfurylamines with ynones followed by oxidation. Specifically, the protocol involved in situ generation of <i>N</i>-furan-2-ylmethyl-β-enaminones and their subsequent oxidation by ceric ammonium nitrate (6 equiv for spiro-lactam formation, 3 equiv for pyrrole formation). This useful dearomatizing oxidation, which likely proceeds via a free-radical pathway, can be expected to extend the synthetic applications of furan and pyrrole derivatives

Picosecond Pulse Radiolysis Study on the Radiation-Induced Reactions in Neat Tributyl Phosphate

The ultrafast radiolytic behavior of tributyl phosphate, TBP, has been investigated using 7 ps electron pulses with 7 MeV kinetic energy, from which two key species have been observed and characterized: the TBP solvated electron (e_TBP^–) and the TBP triplet excited state TBP* (³a) or its fragmentation products. The e_TBP^– exhibits a broad absorption band in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, with a maximum beyond our 1500 nm detection limit. Nitromethane was used to scavenge e_TBP^– to confirm its absorption spectrum and to determine its associated rate coefficient, 1.0 × 10¹⁰ M^–1 s^–1. The electron’s molar extinction coefficients were found by an isosbestic method using biphenyl as a solvated electron scavenger. The time-dependent radiolytic yield of e_TBP^– was also determined directly from 7 ps to 7 ns and compared with those in water, tetrahydrofuran, and diethyl carbonate. In less than 10 ns, the decay is not due to the reaction with other solvent molecules and is instead predominantly due to the reactions with cations issued from the proton transfer by the TBP radical cation (TBP^•+). In addition to e_TBP^–, another absorption band, stable up to 7 ns, was identified in the visible range. This has been attributed mainly to the TBP triplet excited state, TBP*­(³a), by a combination of molecular modeling methodologies. Interestingly, we did not observe any absorption band in the visible nor in the NIR range arising from TBP^•+. Calculations suggest that TBP^•+ undergoes rapid proton transfer to yield a UV-absorbing species, TBP­(−H⁺). Experimental results and supporting molecular simulations provide detailed identification of the earliest species yielded from the radiolysis of neat TBP

Table_4_Identification of Introgressed Alleles Conferring High Fiber Quality Derived From Gossypium barbadense L. in Secondary Mapping Populations of G. hirsutum L..XLSX

<p>The improvement of fiber quality is an essential goal in cotton breeding. In our previous studies, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to improved fiber quality were identified in different introgressed chromosomal regions from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in a primary introgression population (Pop. A) of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). In the present study, to finely map introgressed major QTLs and accurately dissect the genetic contribution of the target introgressed chromosomal segments, we backcrossed two selected recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that presented desirable high fiber quality with their high lint-yielding recurrent parent to ultimately develop two secondary mapping populations (Pop. B and Pop. C). Totals of 20 and 27 QTLs for fiber quality were detected in Pop. B and Pop. C, respectively, including four and five for fiber length, four and eight for fiber micronaire, two and four for fiber uniformity, five and four for fiber elongation, and six and four for fiber strength, respectively. Two QTLs for lint percentage were detected only in Pop. C. In addition, seven stable QTLs were identified, including two for both fiber length and fiber strength and three for fiber elongation. Five QTL clusters for fiber quality were identified in the introgressed chromosomal regions, and negative effects of these chromosomal regions on lint percentage (a major lint yield parameter) were not observed. Candidate genes with a QTL-cluster associated with fiber strength and fiber length in the introgressed region of Chr.7 were further identified. The results may be helpful for revealing the genetic basis of superior fiber quality contributed by introgressed alleles from G. barbadense. Possible strategies involving marker-assisted selection (MAS) for simultaneously improving upland cotton fiber quality and lint yield in breeding programs was also discussed.</p

Table_3_Identification of Introgressed Alleles Conferring High Fiber Quality Derived From Gossypium barbadense L. in Secondary Mapping Populations of G. hirsutum L..XLSX

<p>The improvement of fiber quality is an essential goal in cotton breeding. In our previous studies, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to improved fiber quality were identified in different introgressed chromosomal regions from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in a primary introgression population (Pop. A) of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). In the present study, to finely map introgressed major QTLs and accurately dissect the genetic contribution of the target introgressed chromosomal segments, we backcrossed two selected recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that presented desirable high fiber quality with their high lint-yielding recurrent parent to ultimately develop two secondary mapping populations (Pop. B and Pop. C). Totals of 20 and 27 QTLs for fiber quality were detected in Pop. B and Pop. C, respectively, including four and five for fiber length, four and eight for fiber micronaire, two and four for fiber uniformity, five and four for fiber elongation, and six and four for fiber strength, respectively. Two QTLs for lint percentage were detected only in Pop. C. In addition, seven stable QTLs were identified, including two for both fiber length and fiber strength and three for fiber elongation. Five QTL clusters for fiber quality were identified in the introgressed chromosomal regions, and negative effects of these chromosomal regions on lint percentage (a major lint yield parameter) were not observed. Candidate genes with a QTL-cluster associated with fiber strength and fiber length in the introgressed region of Chr.7 were further identified. The results may be helpful for revealing the genetic basis of superior fiber quality contributed by introgressed alleles from G. barbadense. Possible strategies involving marker-assisted selection (MAS) for simultaneously improving upland cotton fiber quality and lint yield in breeding programs was also discussed.</p

Table_8_Identification of Introgressed Alleles Conferring High Fiber Quality Derived From Gossypium barbadense L. in Secondary Mapping Populations of G. hirsutum L..XLSX

<p>The improvement of fiber quality is an essential goal in cotton breeding. In our previous studies, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to improved fiber quality were identified in different introgressed chromosomal regions from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in a primary introgression population (Pop. A) of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). In the present study, to finely map introgressed major QTLs and accurately dissect the genetic contribution of the target introgressed chromosomal segments, we backcrossed two selected recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that presented desirable high fiber quality with their high lint-yielding recurrent parent to ultimately develop two secondary mapping populations (Pop. B and Pop. C). Totals of 20 and 27 QTLs for fiber quality were detected in Pop. B and Pop. C, respectively, including four and five for fiber length, four and eight for fiber micronaire, two and four for fiber uniformity, five and four for fiber elongation, and six and four for fiber strength, respectively. Two QTLs for lint percentage were detected only in Pop. C. In addition, seven stable QTLs were identified, including two for both fiber length and fiber strength and three for fiber elongation. Five QTL clusters for fiber quality were identified in the introgressed chromosomal regions, and negative effects of these chromosomal regions on lint percentage (a major lint yield parameter) were not observed. Candidate genes with a QTL-cluster associated with fiber strength and fiber length in the introgressed region of Chr.7 were further identified. The results may be helpful for revealing the genetic basis of superior fiber quality contributed by introgressed alleles from G. barbadense. Possible strategies involving marker-assisted selection (MAS) for simultaneously improving upland cotton fiber quality and lint yield in breeding programs was also discussed.</p

Table_1_Identification of Introgressed Alleles Conferring High Fiber Quality Derived From Gossypium barbadense L. in Secondary Mapping Populations of G. hirsutum L..XLSX

<p>The improvement of fiber quality is an essential goal in cotton breeding. In our previous studies, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to improved fiber quality were identified in different introgressed chromosomal regions from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) in a primary introgression population (Pop. A) of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.). In the present study, to finely map introgressed major QTLs and accurately dissect the genetic contribution of the target introgressed chromosomal segments, we backcrossed two selected recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that presented desirable high fiber quality with their high lint-yielding recurrent parent to ultimately develop two secondary mapping populations (Pop. B and Pop. C). Totals of 20 and 27 QTLs for fiber quality were detected in Pop. B and Pop. C, respectively, including four and five for fiber length, four and eight for fiber micronaire, two and four for fiber uniformity, five and four for fiber elongation, and six and four for fiber strength, respectively. Two QTLs for lint percentage were detected only in Pop. C. In addition, seven stable QTLs were identified, including two for both fiber length and fiber strength and three for fiber elongation. Five QTL clusters for fiber quality were identified in the introgressed chromosomal regions, and negative effects of these chromosomal regions on lint percentage (a major lint yield parameter) were not observed. Candidate genes with a QTL-cluster associated with fiber strength and fiber length in the introgressed region of Chr.7 were further identified. The results may be helpful for revealing the genetic basis of superior fiber quality contributed by introgressed alleles from G. barbadense. Possible strategies involving marker-assisted selection (MAS) for simultaneously improving upland cotton fiber quality and lint yield in breeding programs was also discussed.</p