NC State
BioResources
  • Researchpp 8188–8201Hasanpour, G., Khosravani, A., Tajvidi , M., and Rezayati Charani , P. (2024). "Lignocellulose nanofiber and starch for surface application on recycled linerboard," BioResources 19(4), 8188–8201.AbstractArticlePDF

    In a paper production line, starch is widely used for surface treatment and strengthening of linerboard at a size press. Also, the application of lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) is growing because of its relatively low production energy demand, cost, and less hydrophilic nature in comparison to lignin-free nanofibers. Therefore, the addition of LCNFs to starch for paper surface treatment to reinforce the starch film and improve certain physical and mechanical properties of recycled linerboard was investigated in this work. Various LCNF/starch ratios were homogenized and then applied on the paperboard surface. The results revealed that a low mixing ratio of LCNF (5%) with starch improved the tensile index of the recycled paperboard, and at 50% LCNF content in the surface-treating material, film forming on the linerboard was observed in field emission-scanning electron microscopy images. In the case of 95% LCNF addition to starch, bending stiffness was significantly increased. Additionally, the viscosity of the sizing suspension was studied as a crucial parameter in the process and was found to increase significantly following the addition of LCNF.

  • Researchpp 8202–8215Wang, L., Wang, J., and Li, X. (2024). "Deseeded sunflower fractions and their anatomy and cell morphology," BioResources 19(4), 8202–8215.AbstractArticlePDF

    Deseeded sunflower is a heterogeneous lignocellulosic biomass that has not been well utilized due to the incomplete understanding of its biological structure. In this study, deseeded sunflower was fractioned into the stalk rind, stalk pith, receptacle, bract, bractlet, leaf blade, and petiole, and their anatomy, cell morphology, and fiber dimension were studied using light microscope, environmental scanning electron microscope, and fiber quality analyzer. The results showed that the major fractions were the stalk rind and receptacle (49.4 wt% and 28.1 wt%, respectively) and each of the other fractions was less than 10 wt% of the total biomass. The pith was only composed of parenchyma tissue, and the other fractions were composed of epidermal, parenchyma, and vascular tissues. The arrangement and number of vascular tissues were different among fractions. The fiber length in the stalk rind was 0.823 mm, the width was 21.3 μm, and the aspect ratio was 38.6. The content of fiber fines in other fractions was higher than 50%, and these fractions should be developed for other uses. Fractionation was judged to be an effective way to achieve high value utilization of deseeded sunflower.

  • Researchpp 8216–8237Yu, S., Zhu, Y., Liu, F., Zhong, Z., and Sun, J. (2024). "AHP-CRITIC-TOPSIS-based analysis of the influence of young people’s preferences on the design of Funan wicker home products," BioResources 19(4), 8216–8237.AbstractArticlePDF

    Wicker home products, handcrafted from sustainable materials such as willow, vine, and bamboo, embody principles of sustainable development. However, they face a lack of clear appeal among young consumers in the Chinese market. This study utilizes the AHP-CRITIC-TOPSIS method to examine user preferences for Funan Wicker home products to enhance the original products based on young users’ choices in the contemporary era. Using the AHP method, 14 evaluation indicators were selected across three key factors and determined subjective weights. Objective weights were calculated using the CRITIC method to establish a comprehensive ranking. Subsequently, the TOPSIS method was employed to evaluate and order the nine design alternatives. The findings highlight a strong emphasis on emotional criteria in the evaluation process, with variables such as Weaving Fineness, Stress Release, Pleasure, and Cultural Value significantly influencing user preference. According to the calculations, the program IX with the highest proximity emerged as the optimal choice. Based on these results, the study refines design focus and quantitative indexes for willow home product designers, proposing innovative design methods that offer theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of willow products in Funan, China.

  • Researchpp 8238–8256Wu, L., Liu, Y., Liu, X., Li, Q., Yi, X., Chen, C., Wang, L., and Liao, J. (2024). "Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes in response to high-temperature stress in Rhododendron molle," BioResources 19(4), 8238–8256.AbstractArticlePDF

    Rhododendron molle is a deciduous rhododendron, a high-altitude plant prized for its medicinal and ornamental properties. A major challenge when introducing this plant to lower altitudes is understanding its response to high-temperature stress. Using transcriptome analysis, this study examined leaves under varying temperatures, identifying 344,593 transcripts, 124,901 Unigenes, and 12,089 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 36 °C high-temperature stress (ST). At 42 °C high-temperature stress (SY), 12,032 DEGs were found, indicating a significant impact of temperature on gene expression. A Gene Ontology analysis (GO) revealed that these DEGs are mostly involved in stress response, catalytic activity, binding, transporter activity, and immune processes. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis highlighted enrichment in pathways such as plant-pathogen interaction and spliceosomes, suggesting their key roles in the temperature stress response. Key genes such as Brassinosteroid-Insensitive 1-Associated Receptor Kinase (BAK1) and Pathogenesis-Related Gene Transcription Activation Factor (PTI6) were upregulated under ST stress, whereas heat shock proteins (HSP83A) and HSP90-1 were downregulated under SY. These findings offer insights into the molecular response of Rhododendron molle to high temperature, aiding further research in this area and potentially improving the plant’s cultivation and application.

  • Researchpp 8257–8272Wang, J., Liang, Q., Ma, X., Wei, Y., and Chen, Y. (2024). "Research on the design of growable solid wood children’s beds,"  BioResources 19(4), 8257–8272.AbstractArticlePDF

    To meet children’s needs for beds at different stages of growth, a product design model integrating the KANO Model, the Hierarchical Analysis Method, and Axiomatic Design (KANO-AHP-AD) was adopted to conduct a design study on the growability of solid wood children’s beds. In accordance with the KANO model, the demands for children’s beds coming from questionnaires among families with children were classified and sorted, and the demand indicators were then summarized. Secondly, AHP was introduced to establish a multilevel hierarchical model, construct a judgment matrix of design elements, and calculate the weights of these elements to improve the accuracy of users’ demand weights. Then, AD was used to complete the mapping of the demand domain, function domain, and design domain of children’s beds and to judge their reasonableness through the matrix. Such a design allows users to evaluate and verify the rationality of the program. Through modular design techniques, the growability requirements were fulfilled. A low number of product modules were freely combined to form product types with multiple functions to meet customers’ needs for personalization and functional diversification. The work has value for the design of growable children’s beds, thus contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection causes.

  • Researchpp 8273–8283Lan, W., Liu, J., Wang, L., Yang, Y., Wang, Y., Yin, D., and Jin, X. (2024). "Effects of different biochar on adsorption performance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and cadmium in farmland soil," BioResources 19(4), 8273–8283.AbstractArticlePDF

    With the acceleration of urbanization, while the amount of fertilizers used in agricultural production is increasing rapidly in industrial development, heavy metal pollution is also becoming more severe. Excessive use of fertilizers can lead to soil acidification, compaction, and degradation, while the sharp increase in heavy metal pollution observed also has adverse effects on soil quality and crop quality. Therefore, to prevent the loss of phosphorus from soil, improve the utilization rate of nitrogen in soil, and control cadmium pollution, the effects of biochar on the adsorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and cadmium in soil were explored in this study. The following four experimental treatments were conducted: no biochar application, straw charcoal application, fruit shell charcoal application, and coconut shell charcoal application. Samples were collected from different soil depths (0 cm and 10 cm) after both 14 days and 28 days. The contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and cadmium were compared. The research findings indicate that these three types of biochar exhibit significant adsorption effects on nitrogen and phosphorus elements. Nevertheless, the adsorption effect on cadmium is not pronounced, potentially due to the stability of the biochar, the activity of microorganisms in the soil, and the alteration of cadmium speciation, which consequently results in an increase in cadmium content.

  • Researchpp 8284–8295Katyal, P., Kocher, G. S., Bhardwaj, R. D., Kaur, J., Sharma, S., Alamri, S., Siddiqui, M. H., Narang, M., and Gupta, R. K. (2024). "Impact of microbial decomposers spray on in situ degradation of paddy straw stubble left in the field after paddy harvesting in Punjab," BioResources 19(4), 8284–8295.AbstractArticlePDF

    Effects of microbial decomposer application were studied relative to in situ decomposition of paddy straw in the rice-wheat system using both paddy straw incorporation (i.e. mechanical mixing of leftover straw and stubble using rotavator) and retention (i.e. leftover straw and stubble without mechanical mixing) methods. An experiment was conducted on paddy straw degradation during 2020-2021 and 2021-22 using microbial consortium (decomposer) at four locations in Punjab, India using three different treatments. Lignin content, C/N ratio, and tensile strength after 30 days of incorporation and retention of paddy straw were recorded. Microbial treatment along with incorporation improved decomposition parameters from 32.0 to 32.6% (C/N ratio) and 47.5 to 36.6% (lignin), whereas a major share – 28.6 (C/N ratio) and 36.6 (lignin) per cent of decomposition was achieved by soil incorporation as such. Wheat grain yield with and without microbial decomposer was similar across sowing methods (incorporation vs retention) in all locations. Similar observations were recorded in 2021-22 also at the same site of PAU, Ludhiana. Microbial agents responsible for the degradation of straw are present in sufficient quantity in the soil and incorporation of paddy straw in the soil by incorporation using a rotavator can enhance the paddy straw decomposition.

  • Researchpp 8296–8311Bytomski, E., Velciu, J., Dasyam, P., Sängerlaub, S., and Zollner-Croll, H. (2024). "Water absorption of commercial and laboratory tissue sheets," BioResources 19(4), 8296–8311.AbstractArticlePDF

    Commercial kitchen towels (basis weight 39 to 56 g/m²) made of virgin and recycled fiber, produced by Through-Air-Drying (TAD), and conventional Yankee cylinder drying (with creping) were analyzed. The properties of these commercial tissue products were compared to those of handsheets made from them. Laboratory tissue handsheets were also prepared from northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), eucalyptus, bamboo, and straw pulp. Fibers were refined with up to 5000 revolutions of a PFI mill. Commercial kitchen towels (kitchen tissue) absorbed 9 to 14 g water per 1 g of fiber, with higher absorption by virgin fibers, and when using TAD. The tensile index (dry) was 3 to 14 Nm/g. Laboratory tissue handsheets made of commercial samples absorbed less water, but the tensile index (dry) was higher in most cases. Higher beating levels (tested at NBSK, eucalyptus, bamboo, straw pulp) increased tensile index. Curl, bulk, softness, absorption capacity, and suction lift were reduced with refining. Best values for absorption capacity (almost 8 g/g), bulk (almost 5 cm³/g), and softness were observed in laboratory bamboo tissue sheets made of non-refined fibers. After refining (2000 revolutions), the tensile index of such tissue sheets made of bamboo increased from 10 to 30 Nm/g.

  • Researchpp 8312–8323Dang, S., Guo, J., Liu, Z., and Li, H. (2024). "Preparation of Stellera chamaejasme L. mesoporous activated carbon by rubidium chloride chemical method," BioResources 19(4), 8312–8323.AbstractArticlePDF

    To make use of rubidium salt resources in the Qinghai Salt Lake and to valorize Stellera chamaejasme L., mesoporous activated carbon was prepared by a chemical activation method using rubidium chloride as an activator. Using methylene blue and iodine as pollutant models, the adsorption capacity of mesoporous activated carbon was determined. The specific surface area, pore structure, and surface functional groups of mesoporous activated carbon were determined using a fully automated specific surface area analyzer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectrometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT- IR), and an X-ray electron spectrometer (XPS). The surface functional groups of mesoporous activated carbon were found to be mainly comprised of carbon and oxygen. The mesoporous activated carbon had a certain graphitized microcrystalline structure. The carbon yield of the mesoporous activated carbon was 13.55% ± 0.41%, the specific surface area was 877.02 m2/g, the adsorption amount of iodine, 891.35 mg/g, and the adsorption amount of methylene blue, 256.95 mg/g. The dominant pore size was 0.945 nm, the average pore size was 2.43 nm, and the pore volume was 0.26 cm3/g.

  • Researchpp 8324–8338Cui, L., Quan, G., Yan, J., Sui, F., Wang, H., Hina, K., Abro, S. A., Kitajima, N., Kubota, H., Tong, A., Shinoda, M., Fukuro, S., and Zhang, W. (2024). "Synergistic effects of biochar and Arabidopsis helleri on soil Cd and Pb bioavailability and uptake and disposition," BioResources 19(4), 8324–8338.AbstractArticlePDF

    The potential effects of combining biochar with hyperaccumulator plants on heavy metal stabilization and uptake in Cd and Pb-contaminated soils have received limited attention. This study used biochar (BC) at levels ranging from 0 to 40 t ha-1 as soil amendments in Cd and Pb contaminated rice paddy soil. Biochar significantly decreased soil bioavailable Cd and Pb concentrations 6.7 to 16.6% and 10.6 to 39.7%, respectively, compared to the control. The shoot and root Cd concentrations in Arabidopsis helleri increased significantly by 33.5% and 133.1%, respectively, in the C3 treatment compared to the control. Similarly, shoot Pb concentrations showed a 57.5% increase compared to the control, but no significant changes were observed in root Pb concentrations. The Arabidopsis helleri bioconcentration factor (BCF) saw an increase of up to 40.5% for Cd and 57.8% for Pb with the C3 treatment. Conversely, the Cd translocation factor (TF) decreased 42.8 to 49.1%, while the Pb TF increased 32.8 to 96.6% with biochar application. The majority of Arabidopsis helleri-biochar Cd and Pb was found in the B3 fraction (organic fraction), constituting over 50%, and even over 80% for Cd. The Arabidopsis helleri-biochar primarily contained organic char binding Cd and exhibited slow-release characteristics.

@BioResJournal

54 years ago

Read More