NC State
BioResources
  • Researchpp 7769-7780Zhang, J., Lei, Y., Shi, M., and Song, X. (2016). "Influence of fiber bundle morphology on the mechanical and bonding properties of cotton stalk and mulberry branch reconstituted square lumber," BioRes. 11(3), 7769-7780.AbstractArticlePDF

    The mechanical properties of natural fiber composites can be strengthened in the longitudinal direction if the fiber is formed in a parallel manner. Reconstituted cotton stalk lumber and mulberry branch lumber were fabricated using hot-press technology, and the effects of fiber morphology on their mechanical and bonding properties were investigated. The fiber bundle size had a great influence on the mechanical and bonding properties of the final products. The maximum specific modulus of rupture (MOR) and specific modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the reconstituted lumber were obtained for medium-size fiber bundles, and the maximum MOR and MOE of reconstituted cotton stalk lumber was 130.3 MPa·g-1·cm-3 and 12.9 GPa·g-1·cm-3, respectively. The maximum MOR and MOE of the mulberry branch lumber was 147.2 MPa·g-1·cm-3 and 14.7 GPa·g-1·cm-3, respectively. Mechanical interlocking structures in the lumber were observed via fluorescence microscopy, showing that phenol-formaldehyde adhesive had penetrated into several cell layers of the fiber bundle under heating and pressure. The adhesive penetration capacity was stronger when the fiber bundles were smaller in size and density. The reconstituted lumber fabricated from both materials exhibited excellent mechanical performance in the parallel direction. Therefore, reconstituted cotton stalk and mulberry branch lumber are attractive potential materials for the construction industry.

  • Researchpp 7781-7789Ordaz-Díaz, L. A., Rojas-Contreras, J. A., Flores-Vichi, F., Flores-Villegas, M. Y., Álvarez-Álvarez, C., Velasco-Vázquez, P., and Bailón-Salas, A. M. (2016). "Quantification of endoglucanase activity based on carboxymethyl cellulose in four fungi isolated from an aerated lagoon in a pulp and paper mill," BioRes. 11(3), 7781-7789.AbstractArticlePDF

    The aim of this study was to identify cellulolytic fungal strains capable of degrading cellulose from an aerated lagoon in a pulp and paper mill. Four fungal strains that were found to be highly active were isolated on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and suggested to be CMCase/endoglucanase. The identified strains were Aspergillus niger,Penicillium sp., Aspergillus fumigatus,and Mucor sp. All the strains were studied in terms of cultural morphological characteristics and microscopic examinations. The endoglucanase with the highest isolate production was Penicilliumsp., which also showed the highest qualitative endoglucanase activity (1.3 cm), in addition to the main activity of endoglucanase with 297 mmol/mg.min after 116 h. The results indicated that CMC is able to induce endoglucanase enzyme production and that the fungal isolates showed significant cellulose degradation properties.

  • Researchpp 7790-7802Li, Y., Li, X., Liu, D., Cheng, X., He, X., Wu, Y., Li, X., and Huang, Q. (2016). "Fabrication and properties of polyethylene glycol-modified wood composite for energy storage and conversion,"BioRes. 11(3), 7790-7802.AbstractArticlePDF

    Green fir wood (Pseudotsuga menziesii) was modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to produce wood composites for energy storage and conversion. The PEG-modified wood composites were evaluated based on their dimensional stability, durability, and thermal properties by various analytical methods. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed the melting temperature and the latent heat of the phase change material (PCM) composite were 26.74 °C and 73.59 J/g, respectively. Thermal cycling tests and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the composite exhibited good thermal stability, reliability, and chemical stability. All treated specimens were free from noticeable defects, and the addition of a surface varnish coating prevented PEG from leaching. The PEG-modified composites exhibited improved dimensional and thermal performance, which makes this material a potential candidate for economical and green, lightweight building materials.

  • Researchpp 7803-7810Ayrilmis, N., and Kuzman, M. K. (2016). "Properties of honeycomb paperboards faced with heat-treated thin medium-density fiberboards," BioRes. 11(3), 7803-7810.AbstractArticlePDF

    In this study, 4-mm-thick medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels were heat-treated at 140 °C for 30 or 60 min and at 180 °C for 30 or 60 min. Then, 10-mm-thick lightweight honeycomb paperboards made from kraft paper (130 g/m2, cell diameter of honeycomb, 14 mm; compression strength, 0.21 N/mm2) were faced with the untreated and heat-treated MDF panels (thickness: 4 mm) using a two-component polyurethane adhesive. The density, thickness swelling, water absorption, and flexural properties of the paperboards faced with the untreated and heat-treated MDF panels were investigated. The lowest flexural strength (3.76 N/mm2) and flexural modulus (392 N/mm2) values were found in the specimens faced with the MDFs treated at 180 °C for 60 min, while the highest flexural strength (4.20 N/mm2) and flexural modulus (457 N/mm2) values were found in the specimens faced with the untreated MDFs. The loss in strength was primarily attributable to the degradation of hemicelluloses, which are less stable to heat than cellulose and lignin. The thickness swelling and water absorption of the honeycomb paperboards faced with the heat-treated MDF panels significantly (p < 0.01) decreased with the increase in heat-treatment temperature and duration.

  • Researchpp 7811-7821Qiu, S., Wang, Z., He, Z., and Yi, S. (2016). "The effect of ultrasound pretreatment on poplar wood dimensional stability," BioRes. 11(3), 7811-7821.AbstractArticlePDF

    Dimensional stability is a key property of wood that significantly affects its applications. The effect of an ultrasound pretreatment on poplar wood (Populous tomentosa) dimensional stability was examined. During the pretreatments, wood samples were immersed in distilled water and treated ultrasonically under three different powers and frequencies. The samples were then analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The chemical transformation of the cell-wall material was studied and then associated with the change of water absorption and the swelling coefficient. The results showed that the water absorption decreased after the ultrasonic pretreatment. The axial and radial swelling coefficients of the pretreated samples decreased, while the tangential swelling coefficients increased. The volumetric swelling coefficient of pretreated specimens fluctuated near 4.48% (the volumetric swelling coefficient of untreated wood). Ultrasonic pretreatment increased the number of hydrophilic groups, such as the hydroxyl, acetyl, and uronic ester groups. Meanwhile, the pretreatment also increased the degree of crystallinity and reduced the available polar groups. These two factors together caused the change of the moisture absorption and the swelling coefficient of the pretreated wood. These conclusions suggest that the ultrasonic pretreatment is a promising method for further chemical modification of wood.

  • Researchpp 7822-7838Budakçı, M., Pelit, H., Sönmez, A., and Korkmaz, M. (2016). "The effects of densification and heat post-treatment on hardness and morphological properties of wood materials," BioRes. 11(3), 7822-7838.AbstractArticlePDF

    This study investigated the effects of densification and heat post-treatment on the Janka hardness and microscopic structure of relatively low-density Uludağ fir, linden, and black poplar woods. Wood samples were densified with compression ratios of 25% and 50% at 100 °C and 140 °C, respectively. Heat post-treatment was then applied to the samples at     185 °C and 212 °C for 2 h. The hardness in the radial and tangential directions was determined, and morphological changes in the cell structures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hardness values in the radial and tangential directions of the densified samples increased depending on the compression rate and treatment temperature. The hardness values in both directions were higher in the 50% compressed samples. For samples compressed at 140 °C, the hardness values were higher in the tangential direction, whereas the samples compressed at 100 °C were higher in the radial direction. After the heat post-treatment process, the hardness values of all samples decreased. As the treatment temperature increased, more adverse effects on the hardness was noted. According to the SEM analyses, the densification and heat post-treatment deteriorated the cell structure of the samples. The more cell deformation was observed in the samples densified at 100 °C with compression ratio 50% and high heat post-treatment temperature.

  • Researchpp 7839-7848Chen, T., Xie, Y., Wei, Q., Wang, X., Hagman, O., Karlsson, O., and Liu, J. (2016). "Effect of refining on physical properties and paper strength of Pinus massoniana and China fir cellulose fibers," BioRes. 11(3), 7839-7848.AbstractArticlePDF

    To obtain a suitable refining process for Pinus massoniana cellulose fibers (PMCF) and China fir cellulose fibers (CFCF), the effects of the beating gap and the pulp consistency on the physical properties and the morphology of the two cellulose fibers were investigated. The results showed that the physical properties of the PMCF and the CFCF were well affected by the beating gap and the pulp consistency. The CFCF showed a smaller weight-average length and width than that of the PMCF. The CFCF exhibited smaller weight-average length, width, and kink index than the PMCF. It is easy to get the high beating degree, indicating it is more easily to be refined. Additionally, the tensile index and burst index of PMCFP and CFCFP increased with increasing beating degree, while the tear index decreased. Compared to the CFCF, the paper made from PMCF had superior strength properties. Consequently, the PMCF was suitable for refining with a high pulp consistency and a medium beating gap, whereas the CFCF had a medium pulp consistency and a big beating gap.

  • Researchpp 7849-7858Weeraphan, T., Tolieng, V., Kitpreechavanich, V., Tanasupawat, S., and Akaracharanya, A. (2016). "Sodium hydroxide-steam explosion treated oil palm empty fruit bunch: Ethanol production and co-fermentation with cane molasses," BioRes. 11(3), 7849-7858.AbstractArticlePDF

    Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was pretreated by NaOH-steam explosion and then fermented to ethanol by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes usingKluyveromyces marxianus G2-16-1 at 40 ºC. The maximum ethanol production by the SHF and SSF processes was 8.09 g/L (22.21 g/L reducing sugar, 0.08 g/g OPEFB) and 13.658 g/L (0.136 g/g OPEFB), respectively, at 48 h. The OPEFB hydrolysate mixed with molasses to 22% (w/v, total sugar) gave an ethanol yield of 61.60 g/L (0.38 g/g total sugar) at 72 h, while molasses alone gave 53.89 g/L (0.34 g/g total sugar). The OPEFB slurry (OPEFBS; OPEFB hydrolysate containing the solid residue of pretreated OPEFB) gave a maximum ethanol yield of 68.77 g/L (0.44 g/g total sugar) when it was mixed with molasses. Scanning electron micrographs of the solid OPEFB residue in the OPEFBS showed yeast cells adsorbed to the OPEFB fibers. The results indicated that ethanol production from molasses mixed with OPEFB hydrolysate was equal to the cumulative sum of ethanol production from each raw material, and the solid OPEFB residue in the OPEFBS increased the ethanol production in the co-fermentation of molasses and OPEFB hydrolysate.

  • Reviewpp 7859-7888Pásztory, Z., Mohácsiné, I. R., Gorbacheva, G., and Börcsök, Z. (2016). "The utilization of tree bark," BioRes. 11(3), 7859-7888.AbstractArticlePDF

    The utilization of natural raw materials has been practiced for centuries. Of raw materials, wood and its bark have outstanding significance because of their special chemical components and unusual structure. Annual bark production is estimated to be between 300 and 400 million m3. The bark of different tree species has been used extensively in or in conjunction with modern technologies. This article presents a comprehensive summary of these methods of utilization and their results. The diversity of bark utilization derives from the variety of the bark of different species and from the possibilities encoded in the material. Following the anatomic summary, the protective role of the bark is discussed, highlighting its physical-chemical properties and the different methods of medical, energetic, and industrial utilization.

  • Reviewpp 7889-7901De Araujo, V. A., Cortez-Barbosa, J., Gava, M., Garcia, J. N., Souza, A. J., Savi, A. F., Morales, E. A. M., Molina, J. C., Vasconcelos, J. S., Christoforo, A. L., and Lahr , F. A. R. (2016)."Classification of wooden housing building systems," BioRes. 11(3), 7889-7901.AbstractArticlePDF

    Wooden housing is one of the most sustainable building alternatives. In many European and North American countries, wooden houses provide the most common, economical, and practical solution for construction. The timber buildings present adequate levels of durability, acoustics, and thermal comforts. Despite their popularity, wood houses do not have a standardized classification to define and organize their main aspects. In literature dealing with timber construction, most authors emphasize structural systems for large spans (bridges, hangars, roofs, etc.). The presence of some classifications of timber construction results in unclear issues, and few studies have covered and regarded wooden buildings as residential construction typologies. Accordingly, this paper proposes a classification that connects the aspects and details of wooden housing materials in relation to the industrialization level and chronological origin. We expect this classification to assist in a better understanding of distinct wooden housing techniques commercially produced worldwide, diffusing their concepts and possibilities as forestry-timber products.

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