Due to the intact structure of lignocellulosic biomass, pretreatment was a prerequisite to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis by disrupting the recalcitrant lignocellulose and increasing the accessibility of cellulose to enzyme. In this study, an alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse with various loadings of H2O2 (1.25–6.25 wt%) at temperatures of 60–160 °C was proposed to degrade hemicellulose/lignin and improve the enzymatic digestibility. It was found that increasing H2O2 loadings during pretreatment lead to the enhancement of substrate digestibility, whereas the alkali (only NaOH)-pretreated solid generated higher glucose yield than that pretreated under AHP pretreatment with lower loading of H2O2. This enhancement of enzymatic digestibility was due to the degradation of hemicellulose and lignin. Furthermore, Tween 80 was added to promote enzymatic digestibility, however, the increased yields were different with various substrates and hydrolysis time. The highest glucose yield of 77.6% was obtained after pretreatment at 160 °C for 60 min with 6.25% H2O2 and the addition of Tween 80, representing 89.1% of glucose in pretreated substrate. This study demonstrated that the AHP pretreatment could greatly enhance the enzymatic saccharification. The addition of Tween 80 played remarkable performances in promoting the glucose yield during enzymatic hydrolysis by stabilizing and protecting the enzyme activity. This study provided an economical feasible and gradual process for the generation of glucose, which will be subsequently converted to bioethanol and bio-chemicals.

Enhanced photocatalytic visible-light H₂-evolution activity over metal-free g-C₃N₄ co-modified with acetylene black and Ni(OH)₂ co-catalysts is reported.

Pure nanometals have poor adsorption capacity due to their agglomeration in aqueous solution. In this study, biochar (Bc) prepared by the pyrolysis of rosin and coated on bentonite (Bt) was designed to support and disperse nanoscale α-Fe₂O₃ (Bt/Bc/α-Fe₂O₃). The generation of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and the pyrolysis of rosin on the surface of Bt were accomplished in a one-step heating route. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the pyrolysis of rosin into biochar and the production of α-Fe₂O₃ in the composite. Besides, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed good dispersion of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on the biochar surface. This adsorbent demonstrated fast Cr(VI) adsorption property with a Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 95% within one minute and high Cr(VI) adsorption capacity with a maximum Cr(VI) removal up to 81.7 mg g⁻¹ based on the Langmuir model. The remarkable improvement of Cr(VI) adsorption on Bt/Bc/α-Fe₂O₃ was attributed to the good dispersion of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles by the biochar network in comparison with other similar adsorbents. In addition, Bt/Bc/α-Fe₂O₃ maintained high Cr(VI) adsorption capacity under both acidic and basic conditions. This indicated that Bt/Bc/α-Fe₂O₃ can be used for fast Cr(VI) removal from wastewater or emergent Cr(VI) leakage due to its facile preparation and high efficiency in a wide range of pH.