The structural changes, lignin content and enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute acid pretreated bagasse from 19 varieties of sugarcane were investigated. Chemical compositions varied significantly between the materials. Glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis also differed significantly among the samples. The differences in glucose yields were not eliminated by increasing the pretreatment severity. Glucose yield showed a positive correlation with total dye and orange dye adsorption, whereas with blue dye adsorption it showed a weak correlation. The crystallinity index increased with the increasing pretreatment severity as a result of the removal of the amorphous components of the biomass. The degree of polymerization decreased with the increase in pretreatment severity. However, the change in either crystallinity index or degree of polymerization did not correlate with glucose yield. The results suggest that the lignin modification/reallocation is a key factor for improving cellulose accessibility of sugarcane bagasse.

Biocomposite materials manufactured from natural fibres and polymer matrix represent a group of engineered composite products with diverse applications. These materials continue to find increasing applications due to their design flexibility, superior properties and aesthetic appeal. The applicability of these biocomposites, however, depends on the interaction in the fibre-matrix interface. This paper reviews the state of the art research in fibre-matrix interfacial interaction based on published literature. A brief background on biocomposite materials is presented. The focus of this review is the modification of natural fibres and its effect on fibre-matrix interfacial adhesion and properties. In addition, the effect of chemical treatment on fibre composition and fibre-matrix interfacial bonding mechanism are discussed.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract