Pretreatment of Wheat Bran for Suitable Reinforcement in Biocomposites

Abstract

Wheat bran, abundant but underutilized, was investigated for its potential as a reinforcement in biocomposites through different pretreatment methods. Pretreatment methods included were dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH), dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4), liquid hot water (LHW), calcium hydroxide (CaOH), organosolv such as aqueous ethanol (EtOH), and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Changes in chemical composition and fiber characteristics of the treated bran were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Cellulose content increased to 35.1% and 29.6% in brans treated with H2SO4 and NaOH, respectively. The SEM micrographs showed surface cleaning of treated bran while maintaining sufficient surface roughness for the H2SO4, NaOH, and MIBK treated brans. Crystallinity index increased slightly for all treatments except H2SO4. NaOH and H2SO4 pretreated brans achieved important fiber characteristics, which could be useful for making thermoplastic biocomposites. Innovative use of bran in thermoplastic will create more opportunities for growers while enhancing biodegradability.

Highly-Efficient Release of Ferulic Acid from Agro-Industrial By-Products via Enzymatic Hydrolysis with Cellulose-Degrading Enzymes: Part I–The Superiority of Hydrolytic Enzymes Versus Conventional Hydrolysis

“…The morphology of untreated control and EH bran was analyzed by SEM using a Tescan Mira/LMU scanning electron microscope (Brno-Kohoutovice, Czech Republic) according to the method proposed by Rahman et al [ 3 ]. The conditions were set up to operate under low vacuum mode (ESEM, PH 2 O = 1.0–4.8 torr) (PH 2 O = 0.1–1.0 torr) using a large field detector (LFD).…”

“…From the total volume of wheat and rye cultivated, roughly 85% or 635.7 Mt is utilized for flour production, while 10–15% or 74.8–112.1 Mt is converted into by-products, i.e., wheat and rye bran. These by-products are discarded or utilized rather inefficiently [ 3 ]. The limited value attached to bran as a food ingredient is associated with its structural complexity, i.e., the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin which makes this material suitable mostly as a feed supplement, while in food production its use presents a challenge [ 1 , 4 ].…”

A New Approach for the Production of Selenium-Enriched and Probiotic Yeast Biomass from Agro-Industrial by-Products in a Stirred-Tank Bioreactor

“…Xylose, arabinose, and phenolic compounds have been found in both CBAH (corn bran acid hydrolysate) and SBAH (soybean bran acid hydrolysate). The presence of pentose sugars is due to the hemicellulosic fraction in brans [ 37 ] and phenolic compounds are possibly from the lignin fraction since this macromolecule is found in some starchy by-products composition [ 38 ] and, besides, brans may contain husks from the manufacturing process. Furthermore, hemicellulose corresponds to 15–35% of plant structure and it is mainly composed of pentoses such as xylose [ 39 ].…”

Genome sequence analysis of deep sea Aspergillus sydowii BOBA1 and effect of high pressure on biodegradation of spent engine oil

“…Agro residues based supporting material has large porosity which permits remarkable mass transfer of carbon and nutrient sources coupled with oxygen 30 . Mild alkali pre-treatment of RB and washing could remove the amorphous material which makes the fibre surface rough with increased crystallinity index 31 . The crystallinity degree of cellulose affects the easy access of hydrolytic enzymes to polymeric molecules 32 making RB as suitable immobilization carrier.…”