Research Articles

Straw lignocelluloses were converted to reducing sugar for possible use for bioenergy production via physicochemical pretreatments and enzymatic hydrolysis. The experiment was divided into 2 steps. The first step focused on breaking the crystal structure and removing lignin in corn straw. The lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose degradation rates observed were 92.2%, 73.7%, and 4.6%, respectively, after corn straw was treated with sodium hydroxide (3% w/w) plus high-pressure steam (autoclave), 74.8%, 72.5%, and 4.3% after corn straw was treated with sodium hydroxide (8%, w/w) plus wet steam explosion, compared with native corn straw (P < 0.05). The second step was enzymatic hydrolysis for the pretreated straw. The enzymatic hydrolysis could yield 576 mg/g reducing sugar and significantly degrade cellulose and hemicellulose contents by 93.3% and 94.4% for the corn straw pretreated with sodium hydroxide plus high-pressure steam. For the corn straw pretreated with sodium hydroxide plus wet steam explosion, the enzymatic hydrolysis could yield 508 mg/g reducing sugar, and degrade cellulose and hemicellulose contents by 83.5% and 84.2%, respectively, compared with the untreated corn straw (P<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the physicochemical pretreatments plus enzymatic hydrolysis degraded corn straw to many small molecules. Thus, physicochemical pretreatments plus enzymatic hydrolysis converted lignocellulose to reducing sugar effectively.

The effects of selected factors, wood species (Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies L.), type of joint (haunched mortise and tenon, and haunched dovetail mortise and tenon), tenon thickness (one-third and half-joint thickness), type of adhesive (polyvinyl acetate and polyurethane adhesive), loading type (compressive and tensile), and direction of the annual rings were evaluated relative to the elastic stiffness. The testing samples were loaded by bending moment with tensile and compressive forces in the angular plane. The wood species, type of joint, tenon dimension, and type of adhesive all had a statistically significant effect on the elastic stiffness. However, the interaction of those factors was statistically insignificant. The loading type and direction of the annual rings did not have a significant effect on the elastic stiffness. For spruce, the use of mortise and tenon with a toothed feather (MTTF) was found to be disadvantageous, whereas the use of a toothed feather was favorable for beech. Half thickness of the joint was always an advantage, such that the stiffness increased. For spruce joints, the type of glue was not important, whereas for beech, the stiffness of joints glued with PVAc was significantly higher than with PUR adhesive.

The pulp and paper industry in Europe produces over 11 million tons of waste per year. Given high landfill operational costs, thermal co-processing with biomass may be a viable management and valorisation option for such wastes. In this work, the analysis of biomass (wood sawdust), mixture of primary and secondary pulp mill sludge and their respective blends (50 wt.%, 60 wt.%, 70 wt.% of sludge) was assessed by thermogravimetric analysis. One of the possibilities to ensure valorisation of paper pulp mill sludge is its combustion in the form of pellets containing a different amount of sludge. Production of pellets samples was realised on laboratory experimental device. The measurements showed that increasing the content of paper sludge in the produced pellets reduced the calorific value and increased the ash content. This research deals also with the effect of paper sludge on the ash melting temperatures. The results indicated that a higher content of paper sludge in the pellets increased the ash melting temperatures. This advantage of paper sludge can be utilized in co-combustion of biomass with a low ash melting temperature.

To investigate the effects of phenolic extractives on the discoloration of black locust wood (Robinia pseudoacacia) during heat treatment, phenolic compounds were extracted using an accelerated solvent extraction. The main components of the phenolic extractives were analyzed. The phenolic compounds were heat treated at 120 and 140 °C in nitrogen, oxygen, and saturated steam. The results showed that the a* values shifted toward red and the b* values shifted toward yellow after the heat treatment. The changes in the color parameters were more pronounced when the samples were treated at 140 °C in saturated steam compared with treatment at 120 °C in oxygen or nitrogen atmosphere. During heat treatment, hydroxyl groups in the phenolic components were oxidized to form carbonyl groups, or the adjacent hydroxyl groups formed quinoid structures. It was possible that the sample underwent condensation reactions to produce conjugated double-bond structures that led to the increase in color parameters.

Fungal resistance was investigated for wood-plastic composites (WPCs) containing zinc borate, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) as a coupling agent, wood fiber (Pinus sylvestris), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Decay resistance, water absorption, and surface hardness (Shore D) of the WPCs were tested. The reinforced wood-plastic composites were exposed to brown-rot fungus (Coniophora puteana, Postia placenta) and white-rot fungus (Trametes versicolor) in agar tests. The results showed that zinc borate improved the decay resistance of the WPCs against brown and white rot fungus according to their weight losses. Moreover, the water absorption and surface hardness tests indicated that the physical properties of the composites were weakened after fungal decay tests. The usage of MAPE and zinc borate alone or together was effective against both rot fungus species in WPCs. The synergy of 1% zinc borate and 3% MAPE in WPCs could considerably increase the fungal attack resistance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that both brown and white rot fungus attacked the surface of WPCs samples without both MAPE and zinc borate.

Yeasts were isolated and the alcohol genic features were tested for their direct use in the wine processing of jambolan. In addition, changes in the total phenolic compounds during the maceration-fermentation process were investigated. Yeasts were selected from the spontaneous fermentation of the jambolan pulp, and the feasibility and fermentative production of its alcohol was tested. Out of the group of yeasts selected, the one that stood out was subjected to DNA extraction and sequencing. The yeast was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the fermentation tests came back as 80.6% and the ethanol production yield was 8.35%. The chemical composition of raw materials was analyzed by spectrophotometrics and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. The overall results also indicated that the evolution during the maceration-fermentation process of phenolic compound concentrations was influenced by the varietal factor. The concentration of phenolic compounds increased 30%, while the concentration of tannins increased 27.4% in the final product.

The objectives of this study were to generate fermentable xylose by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of wheat straw and investigate the effect of hemicellulose removal on the physical and chemical properties of the unhydrolyzed solid residue (USR). Different reaction conditions, including concentration of sulfuric acid (COS), temperature, and time, were tested for their effects on the yield of xylose and the USR. The ideal hydrolysis conditions for xylose production were 0.5% of COS at 140 °C for 90 min, with the xylose yield of 0.185 g/g wheat straw. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that the acid hydrolysis only caused slight changes in the functional groups and the crystal form of wheat straw at mild conditions, while higher temperature or higher COS exacerbated these changes.

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by plant extracts is currently under exploitation. Plant extracts are very cost effective and eco-friendly and thus can be an economic and efficient alternative. This study investigates the mechanism of preparation of nano-silver using a plant active substance from lemongrass extract. The lemongrass ethanol extract was prepared using an ultrasonic cell crusher. Spherical silver nanoparticles were prepared with lemongrass extract and silver nitrate. The reaction mechanism of the preparation of nano-silver by plant extracts was analyzed by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) measurements. The uniform and stable spherical silver nanoparticles with an average particle size of 22.99 nm were synthesized. Amide compounds in plant extracts may act as reductants and protective agents. The biomass of plants produces their nanomaterials through a process called biomineralisation. Thus, plant active substances can be used widely, and biological methods are completely feasible and worth studying for the chemical procedures, which are environmentally friendly and convenient.

The dimensional stability of oriented strand boards (OSB) was evaluated in terms of the changes in their length, static bending strength, and modulus of elasticity. Outer layers of these boards were manufactured from particles other than strand chips. The boards were exposed to an air relative humidity of 30%, 65%, or 85%. Dimensional alterations were determined separately for absorption (from 65% to 85% RH) and desorption (from 65% to 30% RH) changes. Changes in the mechanical properties of the boards were evaluated after they underwent two cycles of the conditioning process and were compared with the baseline values. The study implied that relative changes in the mechanical properties and length increased when there was a reduction in the size of chips that formed the outer layers. A linear relationship was established between the relative changes in the board length determined for the axis that was more susceptible to deformation and the modulus of elasticity. These changes were inversely proportional to the value of the modulus of elasticity.

An increased awareness of environmental concerns has increased the need for innovation to produce high performance engineering materials with natural renewable resources. In this study, 3 types of natural fibre (mat form) reinforced epoxy composites were prepared by the hand lay-up method, namely, kenaf (K)/Epoxy, bamboo (B)/Epoxy, and bamboo charcoal (BC)/Epoxy. The thermal stability of the specimens was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the dynamic mechanical properties. Viscous elastic behaviour of the specimens was investigated via a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). The TGA results revealed that the BC/Epoxy composite showed the highest thermal stability compared to K/Epoxy and B/Epoxy with the highest initial and final decomposition temperature at 348 °C and 463 °C, respectively. It also showed the highest charcoal content at 11.5%. From the DMA results, the K/Epoxy composite showed better dynamic mechanical properties with the highest complex modulus (E*) strength and the lowest damping behaviour (peak height of Tan δ). The DMA analysis also revealed that the glass transition temperature of the composites fell between 60 °C to 90 °C. This preliminary study may give a new path to develop a novel hybrid composite that offers unique properties unachievable in a single material system.