Research Articles

Alkaline oxidation (AlkOx) is an effective fractionation technique for lignocellulosic raw materials. The efficiency of the AlkOx treatment can further be enhanced by using a catalyst (CatOx). Both CatOx and AlkOx provide a fiber fraction containing readily hydrolysable carbohydrates that can be utilized in biotechnical processes and a liquid fraction containing solubilized lignin and reaction products from various biomass components. The effects of different fractionation conditions on yields and chemical composition of solubilized and insoluble fractions were investigated. Two temperatures and two reaction times were studied with and without a catalyst. The composition and content of carbohydrates in the fiber and liquid fractions were examined. The generation of aliphatic carboxylic acids as oxidation products was also investigated. The catalytically assisted oxidation was more efficient than the alkaline counterpart in dissolution of wood components under a four-hour treatment period resulting in higher dissolution of hemicelluloses. A longer reaction time of 20 hours leveled out the differences between the oxidation processes. Comparison of different bases showed that similar solubilisation of dry matter was obtained with NaOH, KOH, and Na2CO3. Oxidation in Na2CO3 caused higher dissolution of glucomannan and greater acid production. The dissolution of hemicellulose and lignin, and their oxidation to acids was most efficient in the first 4 hours of oxidation.

Nitrogen fixation of wheat straw ammonium sulfite pulping spent liquor and the chelating property of nitrogen-fixed ammonium lignosulfonate were studied. Results showed that free ammonium nitrogen in spent liquor could be fixed by formaldehyde. When the amount of formaldehyde was 10% based on the dry weight of lignosulfonate, 30% of inorganic nitrogen was converted into organic nitrogen, of which 87.4% was ammonium lignosulfonate and 12.6% was urotropine. The proper chelating condition of nitrogen-fixed ammonium lignosulfonate was as follows: pH:3, hydrogen peroxide:10%, FeSO4: 40.9%, and 50 oC for 30 min. Under this reaction condition, the chelating ratio of Fe2+ was measured as 15.1%. Chelation did not result in Fe(OH)3 precipitation under alkaline conditions. Effects of H2O2 dosage on the structure of ammonium lignosulfonate were also studied. The content of carboxyl, phenolic hydroxyl, and conjugated carbonyl groups in lignosulfonate that could be chelated with metal ions increased after ammonium lignosulfonate was oxidized. Average molecular weight and distribution were also determined with GPC. Results showed that the proportion of higher molecular weight components increased after oxidation of ammonium lignosulfonate, indicating that oxidative degradation and condensation reaction proceeded during oxidative treatment and condensation was the main reaction. The increase of molecular weight could improve the chelating ability of ammonium lignosulfonate.

The purpose of this study is to develop a low-formaldehyde-emitting resin system for medium density fibreboards (MDF). A combination of polyamines with phenolic resins seems to be suitable for this purpose. To produce panels with such a resin system, polyethylenimine, and a phenolic resin were separately applied on fibres and subsequently made into boards in a thermal pressing process. It was demonstrated that thickness swelling and the mechanical properties of the boards produced with the new adhesive system were comparable to those conventionally manufactured with urea-formaldehyde resins. Even with adhesive contents of just 2 to 3%, the panels attained satisfactory internal bond strength. MDF panels with a total adhesive content of between 1.25 and 5% were produced from a mixture of polyethylenimine and phenolic resins (resol type) at different ratios. All boards were tested for physical (thickness swelling and water absorption) and mechanical properties (internal bond, modulus of elasticity, flexural strength). It was demonstrated that thickness swelling and the mechanical properties of the boards produced can be improved by a combination of polyethylenimine and phenolic resin.

Changes in color (CIE L*a*b*) and properties (density, mass loss, density loss, and bending properties) of heat-treated beechwood were researched, as well as the possibilities of predicting these properties based on color. Considering the different market values of sapwood and red heartwood, the aim of this study was to establish whether these parts of beechwood differ after a heat treatment. Samples were exposed to temperatures of 170oC, 190oC, and 210oC, respectively, for 4 hours. In order to predict the properties, a linear regression with color change (ΔE) and ΔL predictors was used, as well as the partial least squares (PLS) regression with 12 color variables. It has been shown that heat treatment reduces the properties of sapwood and red heartwood in the same manner, and equalizes the colors. The PLS-R showed the best results of prediction and presented the very high coefficients of determination for the mass loss, density loss, and modulus of rupture (MOR) in both sapwood and red heartwood. The equalized colors of heat-treated red heartwood and sapwood can significantly increase the use of products made out of red heartwood. Color can be an important indicator of the quality of such beechwood.

Methylolurea and carbamide were used to impregnate eucalyptus wood to improve its physical and chemical properties. The physical properties and dimensional stability were examined. TGA was used to evaluate the thermal stability of the wood. FTIR was used to state the changes of functional groups. The changes of wood structure were observed by SEM. The results showed the bending strength and compressive strength parallel to the grain by 15.10% and 16.78%, respectively. The basic density of modified wood was improved by 14.29%. The shrinkage of volume and swelling of volume were significantly decreased to the untreated wood. The TGA results indicated that the mass loss was around 8% during the second stage, from 120°C up to 280°C, while the mass loss of treated wood was around 4%. The treated wood exhibited LOI (limited oxygen index) values of about 42%, while the natural wood exhibited a LOI value of 22%. he FTIR analysis successfully showed that chemical bond was produced between wood and methylolurea as a result of chemical reaction between wood and methylolurea. The SEM results indicated that the transverse and tangential sections of the treated specimens were filled with the reaction products, which can prevent the absorption of moisture.

Agricultural residues are receiving increasing interest when studying renewable raw materials for industrial use. Residues, generally referred to as nonwood materials, are usually complex materials. Wheat straw is one of the most abundant agricultural residues around the world and is therefore available for extensive industrial use. However, more information of its cell types is needed to utilize wheat straw efficiently in pulp and papermaking. The pulp cell types and particle dimensions of wheat straw were studied, using an optical microscope and an automatic optical fibre analyzer. The role of various cell types in wheat straw pulp and papermaking is discussed. Wheat straw pulp components were categorized according to particle morphology and categorization with an automatic optical analyzer was used to determine wheat straw pulp cell types. The results from automatic optical analysis were compared to those with microscopic analysis and a good correlation was found. Automatic optical analysis was found to be a promising tool for the in-depth analysis of wheat straw pulp cell types.

Fatigue life, morphological studies, and thermal aging properties of rattan powder-filled natural rubber (NR) composites were investigated as a function of filler loading and a silane coupling agent. NR composites were prepared by the incorporation of rattan powder in the range of 0 to 30 phr into a NR matrix with a laboratory size two roll mill. Thermal aging was carried out for 7 and 14 days at a temperature of 70 °C, and tensile testing was performed in order to determine the aging properties. The results indicated that the fatigue life of rattan powder-filled NR composites decreased with increasing rattan powder loading. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased whilst tensile modulus, stress at 100% elongation (M100), and stress at 300% elongation (M300) increased after aging. Nevertheless, the addition of the silane coupling agent improved both fatigue life and the aging properties of NR composites due to better adhesion between the rubber matrix and the rattan filler which was confirmed by FTIR studies of composites and SEM studies of fatigue fractured surfaces.

Growing public concern about environment and potential risks to health in the polymer and plasticizer industry promises to increase the market for a safer alternative plasticizer such as a vegetable oil-based agent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of crude palm oil as a bio-additive in polypropylene blown films. The polypropylene was blended with 1%, 3%, and 5% dosages of CPO using a twin screw extruder. The extruded samples were blown using the blown thin film technique. Mechanical, physical, and morphological properties were characterized. Modifying polypropylene with CPO showed good enhancement in the mechanical properties of the polypropylene. Tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength, and tear strength all increased. The scanning electron microscopy photographs of the CPO-modified PP clearly supported the results from the mechanical strength tests. The presence of CPO in the PP matrices decreased the density and increased the melt flow rate. These findings contribute new knowledge to the additives area and give important implications for designing and manufacturing polymer packaging materials.

Precipitation of lignosulphonates from the liquor for sulfite pretreatment to overcome recalcitrance of lignocellulose (SPORL) by addition of Ca(OH)2 was investigated in this work. The experiment was conducted in a reaction temperature range of 20 to 75oC for 90 minutes with Ca(OH)2 charge varying from 20 to 90 g/L and a range of liquid enrichment ratio of 1 to 5. It was found that increased Ca(OH)2 charge, duration time, reaction temperature, and liquor concentration each tended to improve lignosulphonates precipitation, but tended to hurt fermentable sugars conservation. Application of Ca(OH)2 20 g/L to SPORL liquid without enrichment at 30oC for 90 minutes could be an optimal condition. Under this condition, 25.95% of the lignosulphonates was precipitated for further utilization, while calculated amounts of 106.46% of glucose and 60.25% of xylose were conserved for further fermentation.

The adsorption of cellulases onto fibers may be one of the most important factors affecting the enzymatic reaction between cellulases and fibers. This study investigated the adsorption kinetics involved, using isothermal adsorption equations. Cellulose binding domains (CBDs) were isolated from a commercial cellulase, and their role in the adsorption and enzymatic reaction was evaluated. Approximately 13% to 24% of the refining energy was saved after northern bleached softwood kraft pulp samples were pretreated with full cellulase, CBDs, or cellulase lacking CBDs under optimal conditions. The absence of CBDs in cellulase resulted in less effective enzyme adsorption and hydrolysis of the fibers. These data suggest that pretreatment of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp with CBDs may not only improve the beating degree of the pulp and reduce refining energy consumption but also improve the tensile index of the handsheet. Analysis of the degree of cellulose crystallinity and fiber surface morphology by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the CBDs in cellulase help modify the crystalline area and facilitate the enzymatic degradation of cellulose. The adsorption parameters of the cellulases calculated from isothermal adsorption experiments confirmed the role of CBDs in the adsorption of cellulases onto fibers.