Location: Sustainable Biofuels and Co-products Research
2021 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Improvement of the surface hydrophilicity of wool fibers. Improvement of the surface hydrophilicity of wool fibers. The hydrophobic surface of wool fiber could be a barrier for the further modification of fibers due to covalently bonded 18-methyleicosanoic acid (18-MEA). ARS scientists at Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, introduced a base/cationic detergent (sodium carbonate solution containing cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTAB)) to alter the surface feature wool, thereby facilitating the modification of wool fiber, such as enzyme treatment. The solution could effectively hydrolyze the thioester bonds connecting fibers and 18-MEA while limiting the damage on wool. According to the water contact angle measurement, the modified wool fabric surface exhibited a very hydrophilic feature compared with control.
Review Publications
Tang, K., Li, W., Liu, J., Liu, C., Pan, H. 2020. Mechanism of collagen processed with urea determined by thermal degradation analysis. Journal of American Leather Chemists Association. 115(10):380-391.
Sarker, M.I., Long, W., Liu, C. 2020. Efficacy of aqueous solution of n-halamine to reduce microbiological contamination on cattle hides for meat safety with byproduct quality assurance. Journal of American Leather Chemists Association. 115:330-336.
Chen, N., Liu, C., Brown, E.M., Latona, N.P. 2020. Environment-friendly treatment to reduce photoyellowing and improve UV-blocking of wool. Polymer Degradation and Stability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2020.109319.
Liu, C., Brown, E.M., Kronick, P., Kamath, Y., Erhan, S.Z. 2020. Leather and textile uses of fats and oils. In: Fereidon Shahidi, editor. Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products. 7th edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. 6, p. 305. https://doi.org/10.1002/047167849X.bio040.pub2.
Ashby, R.D., Solaiman, D. 2020. Biosynthesis and applications of microbial glycolipid biosurfactants. ACS Symposium Series. Washington, DC: ACS Press. 1347, p. 63-82.
Solaiman, D., Ashby, R.D., Erhan, S.Z. 2020. Soaps. In Shahidi, F. editor. Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products. 7th Edition. Hoborken, NY: Wiley and Sons. 6, p. 41-56. https://doi.org/10.1002/047167849X.bio034.pub2.
Ashby, R.D. 2020. Xylose utilization for polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis. ACS Symposium Series 1373. Washington, DC: ACS Press. p. 125-143.
Hazer, B., Ashby, R.D. 2020. Synthesis of a novel tannic acid-functionalized polypropylene as antioxidant active-packaging materials. Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128644.
