Chemical Engineering February 2017 - 12

An enzymatic route to lignin-based functional chemicals
P
henpropanone monomers can be produced
from lignin via an enzymatic process developed
by Yukari Ohta and coworkers at the R&D Center
for Marine Biosciences, Japan Agency for
Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Yokosuka City;
www.jamstec.go.jp), in collaboration with National Defense
Academy, Kyoto University and Saitama Institute
of Technology. The monomers are produced from wood
lignin using multiple enzymes that are derived from a
marine bacterial strain. Such monomers have potential
applications for making pharmaceuticals, functional
R
esearchers from Nanjing University (Nanjing, China;
www.nju.edu.cn) have reported a solar desalination
device that is claimed to be much more efficient
than existing devices. While typical solar-powered
desalinators are not very efficient - only about 30 to 45%
of the energy they take from sunlight results in water vapor
generation - the new device has an efficiency of 80%.
The conventional design of direct absorber bulk water
contact has intrinsic thermal loss through bulk water.
The new device's high efficiency is made possible by a
confined, two-dimensional water path. Also, due to minimized
heat loss, the high efficiency of solar desalination is
independent of the water quantity and can be maintained
CMS-5571-Powerof7-Idea-CE_FINAL2.pdf 1 1/11/17 3:38 PM
foods and cosmetics.
The aromatic monomers are directly made from natural
lignin via a cascade reaction of b-O-4-cleaving bacterial
enzymes in a one-pot synthesis. Guaiacylhydroxylpropanone
(GHP) and the GHP/syringylhydroxylpropanone
(SHP) mixture are exclusive monomers from lignin isolated
from softwood (Cryptomeria japonica) and hardwood
(Eucalyptus globulus). To demonstrate the applicability
of GHP as a platform chemical for bio-based
chemicals, the researchers chemically generated valueadded
GHP derivatives for biopolymers.
Improving the efficiency of solar desalination
without thermal insulation of the container.
A foldable graphene oxide film, fabricated by a scalable
process, serves as efficient solar absorber, vapor channel
and thermal insulator. The graphene oxide film is not in direct
contact with bulk water, but is physically separated by
a thermal insulator (polystyrene foam) to suppress parasitic
heat loss. A 2-D water path is enabled by a thin layer of
cellulose wrapped over the surface of the thermal insulator.
The entire structure can float on the water surface, with
only the bottom side of the cellulose in direct contact with
bulk water, so an efficient water supply to the absorber on
the top surface is enabled by a 2-D surface water path
within the cellulose pumped by capillary force.
n
Give your ideas
the power of 7.
CHEMCAD Version 7 has a new graphic interface that fits your workflow. Grayscale
shading allows easy viewing on screen, a wireframe-look exports nicely to P&ID, and
jewel-toned color delivers maximum impact. You can customize color, too. It's easy
and intuitive, so you can focus on solving complex engineering challenges. We've
got the presentation.
To learn how CHEMCAD 7 best presents your ideas, call us today at
800-CHEMCAD or +1 713 978 7700 or visit chemstations.com/impact7.
12
Circle 08 on p. 70 or go to adlinks.chemengonline.com/66425-08
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
FEBRUARY 2017
http://www.jamstec.go.jp http://www.nju.edu.cn http://www.chemstations.com/impact7 http://WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM http://adlinks.chemengonline.com/66425-08
Chemical Engineering February 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering February 2017
