The recent trend in bioenergy feedstock development focuses on the use of large-statured perennial grasses that pose a relatively high risk of becoming invasive species due to the similarity in desirable agronomic traits with those of many of our worst invaders. Thus, it would be prudent to evaluate the potential ecological benefits and consequences of widespread cultivation of potentially invasive species. Miscanthus sinensis and its sterile daughter species, Miscanthus × giganteus, are two prominent bioenergy feedstock candidates due to their low input requirements and significant biomass production in a broad range of growing conditions. Despite being an extremely popular ornamental grass, and naturalizing in over half of US states, little is actually known about the biology, ecology and niche requirements of M. sinensis. Thus, the objective of our research is to characterize extant M. sinensis populations, and evaluate the niche requirements, especially in terms of the commonly limiting resources of light and soil moisture. In order to better assess the risk of M. sinensis (and subsequently M. × giganteus) cultivation, we surveyed 18 naturalized populations across the east coast to characterize habitat preferences, population structure, and plant performance across a latitudinal gradient. We found the vast majority of M. sinensis populations occurred in areas of high and low resource availability (e.g. soil nutrients and light) along roadsides and forest edges, with outlier individuals found in forest understories. We conducted a greenhouse study to compare shade and soil moisture tolerance among common ornamental cultivars and naturalized populations, where we found enhanced plant growth and vigor in naturalized biotypes compared to ornamentals across varying levels of shade. We also found that both naturalized and ornamental biotypes were not significantly affected by soil moisture stress, and thus express significant drought tolerance. Finally, we investigated the temperature and moisture requirements of M. sinensis seeds and determined a base temperature of approximately 8"C, as well as variable moisture and time to germination requirements between varieties and seed sources. These basic ecological studies will help refine and support future evaluations and weed risk assessments of both Miscanthus sinensis and M. × giganteus, which is critical in prevention of major ecological invasions. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

No description available.

Palabras clave: materiales lignocelulósicos residuales, chopo, pino, paja de trigo, plantas anuales, abacá, sisal, yute, lino, Miscanthus sinensis, bagazo de caña de azúcar, henequén, pastas de cocción rápida sosa/AQ, pastas IRSP, carboximetilcelulosa, comportamiento reológico, grado de sustitución.El presente trabajo describe la preparación y caracterización de muestras de carboximetilcelulosa (CMC) a partir de diferentes materiales lignocelulósicos tanto residuales como no madereros, así como el estudio de la influencia de las condiciones de preparación de la materia de partida y sus características sobre las propiedades finales de las CMCs obtenidas. La producción de carboximetilcelulosa a partir de estos materiales supone una importante contribución ya que, en la mayoría de los casos, el derivado se obtiene a partir de linters de algodón y madera de pino y eucalipto. Las muestras de CMC fueron preparadas a partir de pastas procedentes de tres diferentes tipos de cocciones:  Pastas blanqueadas de pino, chopo y paja de trigo, provenientes de procesos de cocción con sosa/antraquinona con tiempos de residencia que abarcaban desde los convencionales de aproximadamente 90 min hasta tiempos de cocción rápidos del orden de 3 min. Pastas blanqueadas de Miscanthus sinensis, bagazo de caña de azúcar y henequén cocidas mediante el método IRSP (Impregnation Rapid Steam Explosion Process) Pastas papeleras comerciales y blanqueadas provenientes de procesos convencionales sosa/antraquinona de abacá, sisal, yute y lino La reacción de eterificación se llevó a cabo siguiendo el procedimiento Druvacell a escala laboratorio para la obtención de CMC con alto grado de pureza. Esta se realizó utilizando siempre las mismas condiciones de operación y relación cuantitativa de los materiales presentes. Los productos purificados fueron caracterizados en función de su grado de sustitución (DS), pureza, solubilidad, viscosidad intrínseca  de soluciones de CMC en NaCl 0.1M, peso molecular y comportamiento reológico de soluciones de CMC a diferentes concentraciones. Se encontró que el DS de las CMCs sintetizadas en el laboratorio dependen en gran medida de la morfología del material lignocelulósico del cual provienen. El método usado para la eterificación de las pastas, da como resultado DS cercanos a 1 después de una eterificación y alrededor de 2 si se aplica un segundo tratamiento de eterificación. Con excepción de las CMCs fabricadas a partir de Miscanthus sinensis y bagazo de caña de azúcar, se obtuvieron DS de 0.75 y 1.45 después de una y dos eterificaciones respectivamente. La pureza de todas las muestras de CMC superaba el 98%. Los valores del peso molecular y el comportamiento reológico de las soluciones de CMC están relacionados con la viscosidad de las pastas de partida. De esta manera, las pastas que tenían un valor menor de viscosidad generaban CMCs con un comportamiento reológico cercano al newtoniano y por el contrario las CMCs que fueron sintetizadas a partir de pastas con mayor viscosidad, presentaban comportamientos pseudoplásticos. Los resultados relacionados con la caracterización reológica de las muestras de CMC, muestran que es posible obtener derivados de celulosa de pastas no madereras con propiedades diferentes a las obtenidas por materiales comunes como la madera o linters de algodón. Estos nuevos materiales presentan un potencial importante para la producción de derivados de celulosa con características innovadoras para aplicaciones industriales específicas, especialmente la estabilidad de la viscosidad con la temperaturaEn general, los experimentos realizados mostraron la viabilidad de obtener CMCs similares a las comerciales partiendo de materiales no convencionales. Además, se confirma la posibilidad de producir derivados de celulosa a partir de pastas de cocción rápida y explosión con vapor, ampliándose de esta manera las opciones de estudio de otros derivados de celulosa de interés industrial. / Keywords: waste lignocellulosic materials, poplar, pine, wheat straw, annual plants, abaca, sisal, jute, linen, Miscanthus sinensis, sugar cane, henequen, fast soda/AQ pulps, IRSP pulps, carboxymethylcellulose, rheological behavior, degree of substitution.In this manuscript we describe the synthesis and characterization of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) samples from different lignocellulosic residual and non-wood materials. We also describe how the condition of the raw materials affects the preparation and final properties of the CMCs produced. The production of carboxymethylcellulose from these materials is an important contribution because, currently, it is produced from cotton linters and pine and eucalyptus wood.The CMC samples were prepared from three kinds of cellulose pulps:  Soda/anthraquinone bleached pine, poplar and wheat straw pulps with cooking residence times ranging from 3 to 90 min. Steam exploded Miscanthus sinensis, sugar cane and henequen pulps cooked by IRSP (Impregnation Rapid Steam Explosion Process). Commercial bleached paper pulps cooked by the soda/anthraquinone process of abaca, sisal, jute and linen.High purity carboxymethylcellulose was obtained by the etherification Druvacell process on a laboratory scale, always under the same conditions and with the same chemical amounts.The final purified products were characterized in terms of their degree of substitution (DS), purity and solubility in concentrated NaOH, CMC intrinsic viscosity  in 0.1M NaCl solutions, molecular weight and rheological behavior of CMC samples at different concentrations.We found that the DS depended on the raw material morphology and properties and not on the cooking temperature of the pulp source. The method we used for the etherification reaction yielded CMCs whose degree of substitution was close to 1 after one etherification reaction, and around 2 when a second etherification reaction was performed at the same conditions. Miscanthus sinensis and sugar cane were the only exceptions because they yielded CMCs with a DS of around 0.75 and 1.45 after one and two etherification treatments. All CMC samples had purities of over 98%. The molecular weights and the rheological behavior of the CMC solutions were directly related to the viscosity of the pulps. Pulps of lower viscosity therefore produced CMCs whose rheological behavior was similar to Newtonian behavior. On the other hand, the pseudoplastic behavior was obtained from pulps of higher viscosity.The rheological characterization of the CMC samples shows the viability of obtaining carboxymethylcellulose from non-conventional materials whose characteristics are different from those obtained from common materials such as wood or cotton. These new materials have great potential for producing cellulose derivatives with novel characteristics like temperature stability that make them suitable for specific and tailor-made industrial applications. Overall, our results show that carboxymethylcelluloses can be obtained from non-conventional materials having similar characteristics to commercial CMC. We also confirm the production of CMC from rapid soda/AQ and IRSP pulps, being posible to extend this study for other cellulose derivatives of industrial interest.