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Title: Plasticity, elasticity, and adhesion energy of plant cell walls: nanometrology of lignin loss using atomic force microscopy

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [6]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Information Science, Computational Sciences and Engineering Division. BioEnergy Science Center (BESC). Biosciences Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  2. Aix Marseille Univ., Marseille (France). Interdisciplinary Center of Nanoscience at Marseille (CINaM)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). BioEnergy Science Center (BESC). Biosciences Division; Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  4. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Information Science, Computational Sciences and Engineering Division; Aix Marseille Univ., Marseille (France). Interdisciplinary Center of Nanoscience at Marseille (CINaM)
  5. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). BioEnergy Science Center (BESC). Biosciences Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  6. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Information Science, Computational Sciences and Engineering Division. BioEnergy Science Center (BESC). Biosciences Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Dept. of Physics

The complex organic polymer, lignin, abundant in plants, prevents the efficient extraction of sugars from the cell walls that is required for large scale biofuel production. Because lignin removal is crucial in overcoming this challenge, the question of how the nanoscale properties of the plant cell ultrastructure correlate with delignification processes is important. Here, we report how distinct molecular domains can be identified and how physical quantities of adhesion energy, elasticity, and plasticity undergo changes, and whether such quantitative observations can be used to characterize delignification. By chemically processing biomass, and employing nanometrology, the various stages of lignin removal are shown to be distinguished through the observed morphochemical and nanomechanical variations. Such spatially resolved correlations between chemistry and nanomechanics during deconstruction not only provide a better understanding of the cell wall architecture but also is vital for devising optimum chemical treatments.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Contributing Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Aix Marseille Univ., Marseille (France); Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1346628
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Vol. 7; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

Nanoscale hygromechanical behavior of lignin journal September 2018
Investigations on the elasticity of functional gold nanoparticles using single-molecule force spectroscopy journal January 2018
A High-Q AFM Sensor Using a Balanced Trolling Quartz Tuning Fork in the Liquid journal May 2018
Action of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase on plant tissue is governed by cellular type journal December 2017
Nanomechanics and Raman Spectroscopy of in Situ Native Carbohydrate Storage Granules for Enhancing Starch Quality and Lignocellulosic Biomass Production journal February 2020
Branched Pectic Galactan in Phloem-Sieve-Element Cell Walls: Implications for Cell Mechanics journal November 2017
Exploring the Treasure of Plant Molecules With Integrated Biorefineries journal April 2019