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Plant cell wall characterization using scanning probe microscopy techniques

Journal Article · · Biotechnology for Biofuels
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Lignocellulosic biomass is today considered a promising renewable resource for bioenergy production. A combined chemical and biological process is currently under consideration for the conversion of polysaccharides from plant cell wall materials, mainly cellulose and hemicelluloses, to simple sugars that can be fermented to biofuels. Native plant cellulose forms nanometer-scale microfibrils that are embedded in a polymeric network of hemicelluloses, pectins, and lignins; this explains, in part, the recalcitrance of biomass to deconstruction. The chemical and structural characteristics of these plant cell wall constituents remain largely unknown today. Scanning probe microscopy techniques, particularly atomic force microscopy and its application in characterizing plant cell wall structure, are reviewed here. We also further discuss future developments based on scanning probe microscopy techniques that combine linear and nonlinear optical techniques to characterize plant cell wall nanometer-scale structures, specifically apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1626653
Journal Information:
Biotechnology for Biofuels, Journal Name: Biotechnology for Biofuels Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 1754-6834
Publisher:
BioMed CentralCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (7)

Epoxidation and etherification of alkaline lignin to prepare water-soluble derivatives and its performance in improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency journal April 2016
Progress and Opportunities in the Characterization of Cellulose – An Important Regulator of Cell Wall Growth and Mechanics journal March 2019
Advanced-Microscopy Techniques for the Characterization of Cellulose Structure and Cellulose-Cellulase Interactions book August 2013
Structure of Residual Biomass Characterization book October 2019
Invited Review Article: Combining scanning probe microscopy with optical spectroscopy for applications in biology and materials science journal June 2012
Plant micro- and nanomechanics: experimental techniques for plant cell-wall analysis journal September 2013
Plant micro- and nanomechanics: Experimental techniques for plant cell-wall analysis text January 2013

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