Volume 19 Issue 4

Willow wood furniture has become one of the most popular types of wood furniture in the Chinese furniture market. Research was undertaken to solve the pain points of product design and meet the requirements of green development. Firstly, the Kano model was used to classify user requirements. Secondly, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to calculate each design factors’ comprehensive weights, ensuring consistency between the design objectives and user requirements. Thirdly, the TRIZ contradiction matrix was used to identify and solve engineering difficulties in the design process. During the design process, the Kano-AHP-TRIZ was combined to realize a scientific design strategy that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results showed that the design scheme of willow furniture based on user requirements had consistency, matching, and effectiveness with the furniture market development trend, which makes the furniture design process more scientific and rigorous. It also provided a new research perspective and design strategy for the innovative development of the furniture industry.

The effects of laboratory beating on unbleached regular grade pine kraft pulp (UPKP), pre-treated with commercial cellulase/hemicellulase enzymatic preparation (C/HEP) were assessed using degrees of Schopper-Riegler (°SR) and fibre-quality numbers (FQN). The tests showed a significant increase in the °SR (used in papermaking laboratories and industry to assess the degree of beating) of the UPKP after its enzymatic pre-treatment in the amount of 0.25 to 5.0 mL/kg of pulp and beating. However, only a several percent reduction of beating time was observed when the effect of this pretreatment of pulp on the speed of its beating was determined using another method. The treatment of the pulp selected for research with C/HEP before beating negatively influenced its strength properties after this process. The results correlated well with the most important basic fiber properties from the standpoint of papermaking.

Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of banana fiber and sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy biocomposites were evaluated with and without cashew nut shell (CNS) filler, either separately, or as hybrid biocomposites. Bidirectional woven mats were used to make composites by compression molding. The CNS filler content was 5% to 10%. Adding CNS filler of up to 5% improved the mechanical and thermal properties. Further increases in filler content above the threshold value diminished their mechanical properties due to poor dispersion and increased porosity. The maximum tensile and flexural strength were found as 43 and 92 MPa. The highest impact strength was obtained with the hybrid biocomposites with 5% filler. This was attributed to the toughening effect of phenolic compounds in the CNS. In addition, the thermal stability of the biocomposites was influenced by filler content. The biocomposites exhibited varying water absorption capacities as the filler content increased with the water uptake. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed the microsurface of the fractured samples and their interfacial bonding, fiber pull-out, and fracture. However, increasing filler content in the biocomposite reduced the filler pull-out and led to fiber breakage.

In the production of wood fuel pellets, starch is frequently used as an additive to enhance bonding and durability. This study investigated the effectiveness of four different kinds of starches as additives, each at a concentration of 5% (dry basis), when combined with sawdust from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The starches tested included plain wheat flour, hydrothermally treated wheat starch, wheat starch with amylose-like properties, and nearly pure amylopectin obtained from waxy rice flour. All pellets were produced at a die temperature of 100 °C using a Single Pellet Press, with varying moisture contents of 5%, 8%, 11%, and 14% (wet basis). The pellets were evaluated for compression work, back pressure, physical density, hardness, and moisture content. Additionally, chemical bonding was assessed using FT-IR spectroscopy. Compression energy was found to be influenced by moisture content, irrespective of starch utilization, and it decreased with increasing moisture levels, especially between 5 to 8% (wb). The inclusion of starch led to notably higher pellet hardness, with amylose yielding the hardest pellets, 34±3 kg when the moisture content was 11%. Based on this study, it is recommended to use hydrothermally treated wheat flour, as it consistently produced high-quality pellets.

The extraction methods used to obtain natural products face some problems, such as solvent toxicity, high extraction time, and low yields. Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE-CO₂) is an encouraging extraction system for obtaining high-yield of natural extracts. In this work, Schinus terebinthifolia fruits were extracted via SFE-CO₂ using two conditions: A (static extraction) (SE) for 15 min, followed by dynamic extraction (DE) for 45 min, and B (without SE but with DE for 60 min). The extract yield was 0.205 g and 0.236 g via condition A and B, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography assessment revealed the occurrence of several constituents with high quantities in the extract at condition B. The well diffusion test showed inhibition of 26 ± 0.1, 25 ± 0.2, 29 ± 0.1, 33 ± 0.2, 27 ± 0.1, and 8.0 ± 0.1 mm zones using the extract at condition B, while at condition A there were low inhibition zones towards Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas areginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger, correspondingly. Lipase (obesity stimulant) and butyrylcholinesterase (Alzheimer stimulant) were inhibited by the extract at condition B with IC₅₀ quantities of 27.03 and 4.83 μg/mL, while it was 37.45 and 17.57 μg/mL, respectively at condition A.

The US Pulp and Paper (P&P) industry heavily relies on fossil sources, with lime kiln operations posing a significant challenge for achieving zero on-site fossil emissions. This study assesses the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential and costs associated with alternative fuels in lime kiln operations for linerboard production. Various options, including bio-based fuels including pulverized biomass, gasification of biomass, crude tall oil, bio-methanol, and traditional fuels such as fuel oil and petcoke, were analyzed through detailed process simulations and Life Cycle Assessment. Results indicate that per ton of product, 2,789 kg of CO₂-eq is emitted, with 69% being biogenic CO₂ and 31% fossil CO2-eq. Notably, replacing the natural gas boiler with a biomass boiler reduces Global Warming Potential (GWP) by 41%, while switching lime kiln fuel to biofuels achieves a 5.5% reduction. Combining a biomass boiler with pulverized biomass fuel use in the lime kiln yields a substantial 93.1% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, at a cost of $76/ton of CO₂-eq avoided.

An innovative approach was pursued for sustainable packaging design using Cycle Generative Adversarial Networks (CycleGANs), tailored for wood packaging engraving. The methodology includes four phases: user participatory design, assembly scheme design, detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) optimization, and computer numerical control (CNC) engraving production. Each phase targets sustainability from design to final product, minimizing environmental impact and economic costs. Emphasizing early user participation helps adapt designs to user needs and environmental standards. Innovations such as real-time updates of packaging patterns via cloud-based iterations and an FEA optimization system enhance durability and aesthetics. This approach improves the environmental footprint and recyclability of conventional wood packaging. The research aims to shift perceptions in the packaging industry towards more sustainable practices, showcasing the practical applications of advanced digital tools in traditional manufacturing. It offers a scalable model for integrating sustainability into packaging design, providing valuable insights and inspiring future innovations in environmentally friendly practices across the industry.

This study aimed to determine the most suitable woody species that can be used to reduce the pollution of Sr, Mo, and Sn, which are heavy metals that are harmful to the ecosystem and human and environmental health. Within the study’s scope, samples were taken from the wood parts of 16 woody species growing under similar conditions in Düzce province, which is among the five cities with the most polluted air in Europe. The wood part is the largest organ of higher plants in terms of mass; it traps heavy metals within itself for many years and can remove heavy metals to a great extent. Therefore, plants with a high potential for heavy metal accumulation in the wood part are among the most suitable plants for phytoremediation studies. The study determined Sr, Mo, and Sn concentrations in the wood parts of 16 tree species via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and compared them using statistical methods. Results indicate that Robinia pseudoacacia and Cedrus atlantica species were suitable for reducing pollution by Mo and Sn, while Platanus orientalis and Populus alba species were suitable for reducing Sr pollution.

A powerful carbon-based solid acid catalyst and furfural were obtained from rice straw (RS) biomass resource. The acid catalyst was prepared through the carbonization and sulfonation of RS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption, and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) were used to characterize the catalysts. The effect of sulfonation time (4 h to 16 h) on the structure and acidity of the catalysts was elucidated. After 16 h of sulfonation, the BET surface area and the total acidity of the catalyst reached 415 m²/g and 7.48 mmol/g, respectively. Moreover, strong acid sites accounted for more than 63% of acidity. The catalyst was then used for the conversion of RS into furfural in water. The influence of reaction temperature and time while using the catalyst on the conversion process was also investigated. The catalyst exhibited high activity in the conversion of RS, with a furfural yield of 68.3 g/kg RS at 160 °C in 5 h.

This research explored the isolation of cellulose from coconut shells using ultrasound. It involved two types of cellulose isolation: alkali and bleached cellulose (ABC) and ultrasound-alkali-assisted isolated cellulose (UAIC). The products were characterized using various techniques, including attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The ATR-FTIR results confirmed the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose in the ABC and UAIC samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the production of micro-sized cellulose. The TGA and XRD results showed improved thermal stability and crystallinity in ABC and UAIC, attributed to the elimination of non-cellulosic constituents. However, the thermal stability and crystallinity of UAIC were lower compared to ABC, likely due to the cavitation effect caused by sonication. The findings suggest that ultrasonication is an efficient and promising method for isolating cellulose.