Automated system and process for heterotrophic growth of plant tissue

A micropropagation system and process for promoting the growth of plant tissue in a sterile environment is provided. The system includes a bioreactor in which the explant tissue is contained and grown. A plurality of fluid reservoirs are connected to the bioreactor for supplying sugar, nutrients, hormones, and water to the plant material. A controller and an analyzer are also included for automating the system by controlling flow rates and by monitoring media concentrations and levels within the bioreactor. Specifically, the controller is capable of monitoring system conditions and making the desired corrections by receiving data from the chemical analyzer. In particular, the controller is capable of calculating and maintaining volume levels of liquid growth media within the bioreactor chamber and maintaining the proper concentrations and proportions of components in the growth media

B749: Pulping, Biomass, and Nutrient Studies of Woody Shrub and Shrub Sizes of Tree Species

The research described in this report was a further effort to determine the potential of woody plants and forest waste not normally used commercially as a source of wood pulp. The results of previous studies of this subject have been reported in several technical journals and as LSA Experiment Station Bulletins over a period of several years. It was concluded that the only feasible way of harvesting this type of material for pulping would be as a whole plant. The small size and large proportions of bark and small branches would preclude any kind of barkwood separation process. If species of this kind and size could be grown and harvested as a crop, it might be possible to improve pulping yield and pulp characteristics by selectively pulping species, using optimum pulping conditions which might vary with the species.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1091/thumbnail.jp

TB17: Fiber Weight and Pulping Characteristics of the Logging Residue of Seven Tree Species in Maine

This publication presents information on fiber weight and pulping characteristics of the logging residue of red spruce, red maple, white birch, white pine, balsam fir, hemlock, and aspen. The accumulation of evidence concerning the amount of fiber in the present logging residue and the pulping potential of that residue justifies this synthesis of the various studies in a single publication.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1177/thumbnail.jp

The Commercial Use of Puckerbrush Pulp

This study investigates the potential of several local puckerbrush or weed trees and shrubs as sources of fiber for papermaking. Four different pulping processes were used (sulfate, magnesium bisulfite, neutral sulfite semichemical, and cold caustic) with six puckerbrush species (alder, gray birch, red maple, pin cherry, aspen, and willow). Mixtures of puckerbrush species, and commercial chip-puckerbrush species mixtures were pulped by the sulfate process with the objective of producing a pulp that would be suitable for fine-grade papers. The results produced a good grade of bleachable pulp with adequate physical characteristics for most fine paper grades. The other three pulping processes were used to produce higher yield pulps suitable for coarse grades of paper and paperboard. The magnesium bisulfite process produced a pulp in the 50 percent yield category but did not adequately pulp the bark. The neutral sulfite semichemical process gave a relatively high yield of a pulp that compared favorably to commercial pulps used in the manufacture of corrugating board. The cold caustic pulping process resulted in high yields of a pulp that had many of the characteristics of pulp from commercial hardwood chips.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1138/thumbnail.jp

TB65: The Commercial Use of Puckerbrush Pulp

This study investigates the potential of several local puckerbrush or weed trees and shrubs as sources of fiber for papermaking. Four different pulping processes were used (sulfate, magnesium bisulfite, neutral sulfite semichemical, and cold caustic) with six puckerbrush species (alder, gray birch, red maple, pin cherry, aspen, and willow). Mixtures of puckerbrush species, and commercial chip-puckerbrush species mixtures were pulped by the sulfate process with the objective of producing a pulp that would be suitable for fine-grade papers. The results produced a good grade of bleachable pulp with adequate physical characteristics for most fine paper grades. The other three pulping processes were used to produce higher yield pulps suitable for coarse grades of paper and paperboard. The magnesium bisulfite process produced a pulp in the 50 percent yield category but did not adequately pulp the bark. The neutral sulfite semichemical process gave a relatively high yield of a pulp that compared favorably to commercial pulps used in the manufacture of corrugating board. The cold caustic pulping process resulted in high yields of a pulp that had many of the characteristics of pulp from commercial hardwood chips.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1138/thumbnail.jp

TB49: Puckerbrush Pulping Studies

A study was made of the potential of weed trees and shrubs, called puckerbrush, native to the state of Maine as a source of fiber for the paper industry. Six species—gray birch, red maple, pin cherry, aspen, alder, and willow—were used in the study. All components of each species were studied separately, including stemwood, branches, roots, and stump. In addition, two mixtures of components of each species were studied: Composite 1, a representative mixture of stem, branches, roots and stump, and Composite 2, a mixture of stem and branches.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1144/thumbnail.jp

Evaluating aryl esters as bench-stable C(1)-ammonium enolate precursors in catalytic, enantioselective Michael addition-lactonisations

We thank the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant Agreement no. 279850 (CMY, JET). ADS thanks the Royal Society for a Wolfson Merit Award. We also thank the EPSRC UK National Mass Spectrometry Facility at Swansea University. The data underpinning this research can be found at DOI: https://doi.org/10.17630/cb133261-b58e-4d72-b380-c877c993dc5dAn evaluation of a range of aryl, alkyl and vinyl esters as prospective C(1)-ammonium enolate precursors in enantioselective Michael addition-lactonisation processes with (E)-trifluoromethylenones using isothiourea catalysis is reported. Electron deficient aryl esters are required for reactivity, with 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl esters providing optimal product yields. Catalyst screening showed that tetramisole was the most effective isothiourea catalyst, giving the desired dihydropyranone product in excellent yield and stereoselectivity (up to 90:10 dr and 98:2 er). The scope and limitations of this process have been evaluated, with a range of diester products being generated after ring-opening with MeOH to give stereodefined dihydropyranones with excellent stereocontrol (10 examples, typically ~90:10 dr and >95:5 er).PostprintPeer reviewe