Research Articles

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Zhao, M., and Yang, L. (2025). "Free drying shrinkage of wood: A review," BioResources 20(3), Page numbers to be added.Yu, Y., Shen, S., Gao, S., Jiang, T., Qin, T., Chen, J., Yuan, C., and Zhang, J. (2025). "Effects of walnut shell powder content on the molding performance of digital light processing 3D printed parts," BioResources 20(3), 5348–5360.

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Researchpp 4283-4301Gurau, L., Irle, M., Campean, M., Ispas, M., and Buchner, J. (2017). "Surface quality of planed beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L. ) thermally treated for different durations of time," BioRes. 12(2), 4283-4301.Abstract Article PDF
Thermally treating wood improves its dimensional stability and durability. The chemical changes brought about by a heat treatment also affect the mechanical properties of wood. Consequently, a heat treatment also influences how a wood surface responds to machining. This study examined the impact of heat treatments at 200 C between 1 h and 6 h on the subsequent surface quality of planed beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.). The new approach was that surface quality was assessed by following a tested method from previous research regarding the measuring and evaluation recommendations meant to reduce the biasing effect of wood anatomy, Also, a large number of roughness parameters were used for interpretation of the combined effect of processing and wood anatomy after filtering the data with a robust filter. Among those, Rk is the parameter that is least biased by wood anatomy and that best expresses the effect of processing alone. Electron micrographs were taken to visually assess the resultant surfaces. The results showed a gradual increase in processing roughness, as distinctively measured by Rk, which increased with longer durations of the treatment. Vessel cavities were deeper than those caused by processing and that influenced, among other parameters, Ra, which is most commonly used in literature to assess surface quality. The ray tissue, especially, exhibited both greater pull-out of fibers and a sort of plasticization with increased treatment time. The length of the thermal treatment reduced surface waviness. The results also showed that it was necessary to calculate the roughness parameters to differentiate between two similar surfaces rather than relying on visual and tactile assessments alone.
Researchpp 4302-4313Ma, Q., Han, L., Li, Q., Ma, S., and Huang, G. (2017). "Applicability of two separation methods for elemental analysis of typical agricultural biomass in China," BioRes. 12(2), 4302-4313.Abstract Article PDF
China still lacks standardized methods for element compositional analysis of agricultural biomass, in particular crop straw and livestock manure, which severely restricts the efficiency of the comprehensive utilization of agricultural biomass. Two separation methods, namely adsorbed–desorbed separation (AS) and chromatographic separation (CS), were applied to simultaneously analyze the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur elements in major agricultural biomass. The optimal sizes of 1.00 mm for crop straws and 0.50 mm for livestock manure were obtained through optimization experiments. Afterwards, the sample mass was considered on two different elemental analysis instruments. From the metrological characteristics and variance analysis, a sample mass of 40 mg of the AS method was applicable for all the agricultural biomass, even with a content of 0.5%. On the other hand, 5 mg of the CS method was suitable for agricultural biomass with contents greater than 1.5%. It is recommended that samples should be kept free of impurities and completely homogeneous, especially for livestock manure. The results provide significant data for establishing a national standard system in the near future.
Researchpp 4314-4326Birkett, G. C., Sicoli, S., Horvath, L., Foster, J., Kim, Y. T., Renneckar, S., and Goodell, B. (2017). "Investigation of nanofibrillated cellulose for hydrophobic packaging material: Examining alternatives to solvent exchange and lyophilization," BioRes. 12(2), 4314-4326.Abstract Article PDF
A bio-based polyurethane and a thermosetting acrylic were tested in conjunction with nano-fibrillated cellulose and conventional kraft fiber to evaluate their use as a bio-derived, biodegradable packaging foam. Foams were evaluated for their density, water uptake, and compressive creep behavior. Bio-based urethane had a mean density of 68 kg/m3, mean water uptake of 4% in 24 h, and exceeded the 10% limit on compressive strain when tested at 71 °C and 22 °C, but remained below the limit when tested at -54 °C. The thermosetting acrylic had a mean density of 128 kg/m3, mean water uptake of 337% in 24 h, and showed less than 10% compressive creep at all three temperature conditions. The bio-derived urethane was able to incorporate 4% cellulose by mass, and the thermosetting acrylic was able to incorporate 48% cellulose by mass. In a 12-week test of biodegradation under fungal attack by Gloeophyllum trabeum and Rhodonia placenta, the urethane foam had < 3% mass loss and the acrylic foam had < 1% mass loss. The acrylic foams showed potential for durable packaging, particularly if they could be combined with a surface sealant that could be ruptured at the end of service life to promote degradation of the foam.
Researchpp 4327-4341Pourmousa, S. (2017). "Chemical oxygen demand and turbidity improvement of deinked tissue wastewater using electrocoagulation techniques," BioRes. 12(2), 4327-4341.Abstract Article PDF
The goal of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of electrocoagulation technique in deinked tissue industry wastewater. The effect of two types of electrodes, three electrolysis times, four voltages, and three pHs were investigated. Experiments were conducted in batch process using a glass cell. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and turbidity improvement of wastewater were measured and evaluated through the independent and interaction effects of variables. The results revealed that both electrodes reduced the COD and turbidity. However, the ability of their performance depended on the electrolysis time, voltage, and pH. For COD, greater improvement by electrocoagulation technique was obtained with 45minute electrolysis time, 24 volts, and alkaline conditions, while the turbidity reduction was achieved at lower voltage. Analysis of the treated water showed that the maximum COD and turbidity removal efficiencies were 81.12% and 89.43%, respectively. The treated effluent was very clear, and its quality met the industrial applications. Consequently, the electrocoagulation technique can be considered a reliable and safe method for deinked tissue effluent treatments to replace the other chemical methods.
Researchpp 4342-4351Liu, X., Wu, Z., Zhang, J., and Ge, S. (2017). "Tensile and bending properties and correlation of windmill palm fiber," BioRes. 12(2), 4342-4351.Abstract Article PDF
Widely distributed in southern China, the windmill palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) is an important economic tree species from which palm fiber can be stripped. Palm Fiber (PF) is divided into palm leaf sheath fiber (PLSF) and palm petioles fiber (PPF), and both have good elasticity. These fibers can be used to produce mattresses and other elastic compound materials. While PLSF and PPF shared a similar elastic modulus, the elastic limit and elastic strain of PLSF were found to be significantly higher than that of PPF. Also, PLSF had superior tensile elastic properties. Within the elastic range, the bending and tensile properties of PF were almost the same. When given force under the horizonal-straight state, PLSF displayed superior bending elastic properties.
Researchpp 4352-4363Komesu, A., Wolf Maciel, M. R., Alves de Oliveira, R., and Maciel Filho, R. (2017). "Influence of residual sugars on the purification of lactic acid using short path evaporation," BioRes. 12(2), 4352-4363.Abstract Article PDF
Short path evaporation (SPE) is a promising separation technique for the purification of lactic acid from fermentation broth. This study investigated the influence of residual sugars, such as glucose, xylose, and sucrose, on the purification of lactic acid using SPE. A 23 factorial experimental design was performed in the experimental range from 5 g·L-1 to 15 g·L-1 for glucose, xylose, and sucrose concentrations. Glucose and sucrose concentrations did not have significant effects on the process of lactic acid concentration in the range used for this study. Xylose in high concentration was found to reduce the lactic acid concentration process performance. An increase in the boiling temperature of the mixture by the ebullioscopy effect possibly hindered the evaporation of the mixture.
Researchpp 4500-4514Li, T., Li, G., Lu, Q., Zhou, J., Li, M., Zhang, S., and Li, J. (2017). "Characterization of Tectona grandis extractives by GC-MS and IR and their infusion into rubberwood to modify dimensional stability," BioRes. 12(3), 4500-4514.Abstract Article PDF
Teak (Tectona grandis) has been popularly known in the wood industry as a precious material due to its natural dimensional stability. To explore the main components affecting the dimensional stability of teak wood, the teak wood samples were extracted with different polar solvents, and the extractives were impregnated into rubberwood specimens to determine their effect on the dimensional stability of the modified rubberwood. The results showed that the methanol extractives of the teak wood exhibited the most significant effect on the dimensional stability of the rubberwood. The extractives were characterized by infrared (IR) and gas chromatograph/ mass spectrum (GC/MS). The GC/MS results showed that the methanol extractives primarily contained 9,10-anthracenedione, 1,1-dimethyl-3,4-bis(1-methylethenyl), and alcohol compounds. It was speculated that the alcohol compounds in the methanol extractives reacted with polar hydroxyl groups in the cell wall, which resulted in a decrease in the size of the site combined with bound water. Moreover, the hydrophobic hydrocarbon compound was impregnated into rubberwood to form a thin layer of protective film in the cells into which the water could not enter under 20 °C and 80% RH.
Researchpp 4515-4526Yamada, H., Miyafuji, H., Ohno, H., and Yamada, T. (2017). "Rapid and complete dissolution of softwood biomass in tetra-n-butylphosphonium hydroxide with hydrogen peroxide," BioRes. 12(3), 4515-4526.Abstract Article PDF
The wood dissolution properties of tetra-n-butylphosphonium hydroxide ([P4,4,4,4]OH) were investigated. Cedar wood meal was treated with several concentrations of aqueous (aq.) [P4,4,4,4]OH with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a glass tube at 121 °C. The solution of 60% aq. [P4,4,4,4]OH with H2O2 at 121 °C showed the best dissolution capability for woody biomass with a high dissolution rate of 0.152 g min-1. Under this condition, 98.5% of the woody biomass, including both lignin and holocellulose, was dissolved after 3 h of treatment. The molecular weight distribution of lignin in the soluble fraction of the [P4,4,4,4]OH mixtures was determined via size exclusion chromatography, and its weight-average molecular weight decreased from approximately 7500 g/mole after 0.5 h to 2 h of treatment to 5700 g/mole after 3 h and 2500 g/mole after 5 h of treatment. Lower molecular weight components were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and vanillin and vanillic acid were identified. The dissolved cellulose was precipitated, and its polymerization degree decreased significantly after 0.5 h of treatment compared to that of the original cellulose.
Researchpp 4527-4546Hassan, N., Hamid, N. H., Jawaid, M., Tahir, P. M., and Ujang, S. (2017). "Decay resistance of acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides modified rubberwood against brown rot (Coniophora puteana)," BioRes. 12(3), 4527-4546.Abstract Article PDF
Rubber trees were cut to the dimensions 25 mm x 140 mm x 1000 mm (R x T x L) and kiln-dried (10% to 12% moisture content, MC). The specimens (20 mm x 20 mm x 5 mm) (R x T x L) were prepared, and a Soxhlet extraction with toluene/methanol/acetone (4:1:1 by volume) was performed for 8 h. The specimens were oven-dried (103 °C for 24 h) and cooled (gel silica). Then, vacuum impregnation was conducted, and reactions with acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides took place for 0.25 h, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 10 h, 15 h, 24 h, 30 h, 36 h, and 48 h at 120 °C. The chemical bonding was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The specimens were leached in deionized water and exposed to brown rot (Coniophora puteana) in an incubation room at 22 °C for 16 weeks. The fastest reaction was with butyric anhydride, then propionic and acetic anhydrides. The lowest weight loss occurred with acetic anhydride after being decayed by C. puteana at 14.0% weight percent gain (WPG). All of the modified rubberwoods (acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydrides) at the maximum WPG were classified as durability class 1. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation confirmed that the hyphae penetrated the cells in both the untreated and anhydride modified rubberwood.
Researchpp 4547-4566Steffen, F., Janzon, R., Wenig, F., and Saake, B. (2017). "Valorization of waste streams from deinked pulp mills through anaerobic digestion of deinking sludge," BioRes. 12(3), 4547-4566.Abstract Article PDF
Based on the results of this study, a total energy amount of 3,111 TJ/year can be produced from the anaerobic digestion of deinking sludge (DS) arising from German deinked pulp mills, which can then be used to replace up to 5% of the total energy demand for those mills. The DS examined was generated by flotation deinking at the laboratory scale from selected mixes of paper for recycling (PfR). The results from the batch fermentation tests indicated a strong dependence of the methane potential of the DS on the carbohydrates and lignin contents, which in turn are linked to the original PfR quality. The highest methane yield was observed for DS100 (25.8% carbohydrates; 5.1% lignin) with 280.4 mL/g of volatile solids (VS) added, while DS70 (14.2% carbohydrates; 24.9% lignin) showed the lowest methane yield, with 122.1 mL/gVS. All of the DS samples showed high methane production rates, in the range between 59.4 (DS70) and 118.6 mL/gVS d-1 (DS100), and kinetic constants of 0.66 to 0.79 d-1. Additionally, no distinguishable lag phases were observed, which strongly indicates the rapid biodegradation of the DS.

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