Research Articles

A cellulose acylate, cellulose-CPAC, was prepared homogeneously in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl chloride imidazole ([Bmim]Cl) from cotton dissolving pulp. The pulp in the solvent system [Bmim]Cl/N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), and then reacted with 2-chloro-2-phenylacetyl chloride (CPAC) in the presence of an acid-binding agent. The effects of functional conditions including the molar ratio of CPAC/anhydroglucose unit (AGU), reaction time, reaction temperature, kind of acid-binding agent, and cellulose concentration on the degree of substitution (DS) were studied. The reactivities of the three hydroxyl groups in the homogeneous acylation of cellulose with CPAC were also investigated. The results showed that in homogeneous reaction medium, although all the C-6, C-3, and C-2 positions within the cellulose AGU could be substituted by CPAC, the reaction was quite selective for the C-6 OH. The successful synthesis of the cellulose-CPAC was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, XRD, and STA. Furthermore, the acylation of cellulose with CPAC decreased the thermal stability of cellulose.

The conducted study desired to increase the accuracy of estimating paper quantity requirements for printing. Changes in press construction and auxiliary equipment help reduce the total waste during production; however, typical estimation methods do not take these changes into account. By specifying the number of important job parameters and using a dimensional analysis approach, it was possible to devise a model of waste sheet quantity estimation better suited for current production practices. Using this model, it is possible to reduce the quantity of paper required for a particular print run as well as better predict the total waste sheet quantity. As a result, less paper may be ordered, stocked, and utilised in production. Using this model, a printing house may develop unique technological allowance standards for their particular substrates and products. The method of waste quantity prediction presented in this paper is also suitable for establishing a quality control system.

The present study describes the development of a new bioadsorbent from lignocellulosic wastes of agricultural origin. The biosorption capacity of an agricultural solid waste, pine bark (Pinus densiflora Sieb.), to remove phenolic compounds (phenol, 2-chlorophenol (2-CPh), and 4- chlorophenol (4-CPh)) from aqueous solutions under batch equilibrium conditions was investigated. The morphological characteristics of the biosorbent were evaluated by BET surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of initial pH (2 to 10), contact time, initial concentration of adsorbate (50 to 200 mg/L), and biosorbent dosage. The biosorption of phenolic compounds decreased with increasing pH, and the highest biosorption capacity was achieved at a pH of 6.0. Biosorption equilibrium was established in 120 min. The biosorption equilibrium data were fitted and analyzed with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm equations, as well as four adsorption kinetic models. The kinetics data fitted well into the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.993. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacity of pine bark for phenol, 2-CPh, and 4-CPh was found to be 142.85, 204.08, and 263.15 mg/g, respectively, as calculated by the Langmuir model at 30 ± 1 °C. Pine bark could be used as a new effective, low-cost biosorbent material with good uptake capacity and rapid kinetics for the removal of phenolic compounds from aqueous media.

In this paper, the mixed refining of fiber and a novel fly ash-based calcium-silicate (FACS) filler is proposed as a new filler application method, as it has some advantages over the traditional filling method. Paper produced using this filler application technique exhibits improved strength and optical properties but reduced bulk. SEM images were obtained to show the FACS filler-fiber composite structure that formed during the mixed refining process. Two models were proposed to describe the mechanism by which the mixed refining process improved the paper properties. Mixed refining can decrease the size of FACS particles, especially if the filler/fiber ratio is low. It was suggested that handsheets filled with small FACS particles had low bulk, which was beneficial for increasing the interfiber H-bonding. Decreasing the filler/fiber ratio improved the paper strength and optical properties at the expense of some bulk, a loss which varied depending on filler content.

This study established a predictive relationship between the material properties and the anatomical characteristics of common commercial Malaysian timbers. Anatomical databases were analysed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), a Duncan test, and the Spearman and Pearson correlation tests, and then modelled using multiple regression (stepwise method with constant excluded). The correlation tests revealed that the properties and anatomical characteristics of the wood were strongly correlated. The predictability of the resulting equation models was quite high. The equation models were able to relate various anatomical characteristics to wood texture, porosity, density, radial shrinkage, modulus of elasticity, and compression parallel to grain. This finding suggests that the relationship between the properties and the anatomical characteristics of wood can be described successfully using multiple regression equation models.

The feasibility of cellulase and protease pretreatment to improve the dewaterability of waste activated sludge from papermaking (WASP) was evaluated. Dewatering properties such as capillary suction time (CST), dry solids content of the sludge cakes from the specific resistance of filtration (SRF), and compression were measured to quantify the effects of cellulase and protease in sludge dewatering. The changes in the amounts of proteins (PN) and polysaccharides (PS) in tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) was found to be the most important parameter with respect to sludge dewatering. Further study, through nitrogen adsorption, verified the large change in the average pore width and surface area. Therefore, in the inner structure of WASP granules are the fundamental reasons for the enhanced dewaterability.

Bonding processes play a significant role in the wood and furniture industry. They allow for the creation of fixed joining of construction elements, creation of new materials and, last but not least, aesthetic appreciation of parts. However, the quality of bonded joints is affected by many factors, one of which is the moisture of the bonded material – wood. The main objective of this research was to determine the influence of wood moisture on the strength of bonded joints formed by polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyurethane (PUR) adhesives. In current practice these adhesives are being increasingly used for their properties and zero formaldehyde content. The procedure for determining the bond strength (tensile shear strength of lap joints) corresponded to standard EN 205. It was ascertained that in addition to actual moisture of bonded wood, the quality of the joint is also affected by the environment to which the glued joint is subsequently subjected. In a normal environment, the strength of the tested joint PVAc adhesive decreases with increasing wood moisture, but it still meets the requirement of the standard. In a humid environment, the strength falls below the limit of the standardized value. In a normal environment the joint strength bonded with PUR adhesive is similar, but the decrease in strength is lower. In a humid environment it shows the highest strength at 20% wood moisture and meets the specified standard minimum strength (4 MPa). Graphs ​​were created from the measured values that clearly show the influence of wood moisture on the final bond strength of a joint.

Bio-oil obtained from hydrothermal liquefaction of Salix psammophila is a very complicated mixture with some highly valued chemicals. In order to separate the chemicals from bio-oil, solvent extraction using nine solvents with different polarities were investigated in detail. The bio-oil extraction yield of the nine solvents were from high to low: tetrahydrofuran > toluene > ethyl acetate > acetone > ether > methylene chloride > methanol > petroleum ether > n-hexane. Based on their extraction yield, an efficient solvent combination of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and tetrahydrofuran was used to separate the bio-oil through multistep extraction into three parts: light oil (26.13%), mid-weight oil (54.19%), and heavy oil (19.68%). These fractions were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that most of the highly valued chemicals were contained in the light oil; the mid-weight oil consisted of aromatic oligomer derived from the decomposition of lignin, which could be a promising candidate for partial substitute for petroleum-asphalt binder; the heavy oil was rich in alkanes.

Biomass pyrolysis or gasification can convert low-energy density biomass into a high-energy density gaseous fuel. In this paper, pyrolysis of pine sawdust with and without the addition of a catalyst was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). The effects of modified SBA-15 catalysts on the formation characteristics of CO, CO2, and CH4 were studied. The two prepared catalysts, La/SBA-15 and Fe/La/SBA-15, retained the hexagonal order of the SBA-15 material and showed high thermal stability in the temperature range of the TGA-FTIR experiments. The results showed that the pyrolysis behavior of biomass is remarkably improved in the presence of La/SBA-15 and Fe/La/SBA-15 catalysts. The modified SBA-15 materials favored thermal cracking of macromolecular substances, resulting in an apparent decrease in the tar and coke fraction, an increase in the yield of light gases, and much higher gas production. Meanwhile, a significant increase in CH4 led to a much higher energy density gaseous product.

The present study is aimed at evaluating the use of plant-based polymers and fibres for the production of sustainable biocomposites. For the first time, plasticiser/solvent-free hemp fibre-reinforced wheat gluten and hemp-gliadin and glutenin composites were obtained by compression moulding at different temperatures. The plasticiser/solvent-free sample preparation method developed in this study facilitated the use of a powdered protein matrix with a mat of randomly oriented hemp fibres. The tensile and protein cross-linking properties, as well as the biodegradability, were investigated. The addition of hemp fibre to the protein matrix increased the E-modulus by 20 to 60% at 130 °C. An increase in moulding temperature from 110 to 130 °C resulted in an increase in maximum stress due to the formation of intermolecular bonds between protein chains. The gliadin composites had higher E-modulus and maximum stress and showed a larger increase in protein polymerisation with increased temperature compared to the glutenin composites. A comparison of tensile properties revealed that the composites were stiffer and stronger compared to several similarly produced biobased composites. The composites were found to be fully biodegradable under a simulated soil environment after 180 days. Biocomposites produced in the present study were found to be environmentally friendly with fairly good mechanical properties.