Volume 20 Issue 3

Molded fiber-based packaging has recently surged in popularity as a replacement for single-use plastics (SUPs). However, key challenges include the lack of low-cost, high-yield sustainable fibers that provide adequate strength and moldability while reducing drying energy consumption, which is essential for widespread adoption. Therefore, this study explores high-yield, sustainable fiber development for molded packaging applications through carbonate and bicarbonate pulping, as well as oxygen delignification. Furthermore, it examines mild refining and cationic starch treatments to balance strength and drainage properties during the molding process. Results show that carbonate and bicarbonate pulping of sugarcane bagasse achieved yields of approximately 72%, while oxygen delignification reduced yield by 2% but improves mechanical performance by 25%. Mild refining decreased dryness by 10%, whereas adding 1% cationic starch enhanced dryness by 9% and increased mechanical strength by up to 60%. These alternative fibers from sugarcane bagasse present a viable solution for replacing SUP packaging, helping to mitigate pollution and reduce waste accumulation.

This study examined the response of color information in digital wheat canopy images from Shandong Province, China, to meteorological indicators during extreme cold spells. Analysis revealed that low-temperature stress altered pixel color and grayscale values, with shifts captured by skewness and kurtosis parameters of color gradation distributions. The kurtosis and skewness of color gradient distributions showed the strongest sensitivity to cold stress. Daily minimum temperature was significantly correlated with kurtosis values for R (0.661), G (0.744), B (0.694), and grayscale (0.744) channels. Models relating these parameters to meteorological factors were developed, with polynomial functions outperforming multilinear approaches. All models demonstrated satisfactory fit, as evidenced by determination coefficients exceeding 0.480. The kurtosis model for green values achieved exceptional prediction accuracy, surpassing 90%. Findings demonstrate quantifiable cold-induced changes in canopy color gradient distribution, establishing a foundation for enhancing freeze damage monitoring systems through image-based metrics. These models enable efficient early warning by linking meteorological data to visible canopy responses, offering practical tools for mitigating agricultural cold stress impacts.

Current algorithms for surface defect detection in particleboard often encounter limitations such as high computational complexity and excessive parameter scale. To address these challenges, this study proposes the LE-YOLO model, which incorporates a normalized Wasserstein distance into the loss function to enhance the detection capability for minute surface defects. A dynamic mixed convolutional network module is introduced to construct a lightweight backbone architecture. Moreover, the Shared Dilated Feature Pyramid (SDFP) module is employed in the neck network, effectively reducing computational overhead while preserving detection accuracy. A lightweight detection head was further designed, integrating shared convolutional operations with a distribution-aware loss function, thereby substantially improving detection performance in complex textured environments. Experimental evaluations conducted on the Chipboardv1.0 particleboard surface defect dataset demonstrated that compared to the baseline YOLOv11n model, LE-YOLO achieved a 5% improvement in recall, a 1% increase in F1 score, a 4% enhancement in mAP@50, a 6% gain in mAP@50–95, a 12.69% acceleration in inference speed, and an 18.6% reduction in parameter count. Compared with other models, the proposed approach not only improved detection precision but also effectively reduced model complexity, achieving a lightweight and efficient detection framework.

Ag-TiO₂/EVA composites were synthesized using silver-loaded nano TiO₂ (Ag-TiO₂) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) emulsion as raw materials, aiming to develop functional materials with antibacterial, anti-mold, and anti-discoloration in properties for wood protection. The study systematically evaluated the composites’ inhibition efficacy against discoloration fungi and molds, long-term antibacterial performance, as well as the tensile strength and water vapor transmission rate of composite films. Experimental results demonstrated that 100% inhibition efficacy against Botryodiplodia theobromae and Aspergillus niger was achieved under two optimal conditions: film thickness of 0.12 to 0.15 mm with Ag-TiO₂ loading ≥20%, or film thickness of 0.18 to 0.21 mm with Ag-TiO₂ loading ≥15%. Samples with 10%, 15%, and 20% Ag-TiO₂ loading exhibited >99.99% antibacterial rates against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, the 20% Ag-TiO₂ sample retained high antibacterial values of 93.0% and 91.7% against these bacteria after 15 days of storage. Mechanical and barrier property tests revealed that compared to the control, the tensile strength of composite films increased by 19.8%, 24.6%, and 29.3% at Ag-TiO₂ loadings of 10%, 15%, and 20% respectively, while water vapor transmission rates decreased by 48.6%, 52.9%, and 60.6%. These findings collectively confirm that Ag-TiO₂/EVA composites possess excellent bactericidal effects and significant wood anti-mold/anti-discoloration functionality.

China’s abundant low-rank coal faces challenges in utilization due to high moisture content and low calorific value. Microbial biodegradation has emerged as a promising method to improve coal quality. This study investigates the coal-degrading capabilities of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain, designated as strain N7 in this study. Experimental results demonstrated that strain N7 significantly degraded lignite. On Luria-Bertani solid medium, the strain formed clear coal solubilization zones, indicating its biodegradation potential. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy revealed humic-like substances, suggesting humic acid formation through oxidative depolymerization. Enzyme assays identified lignin peroxidase (LiP) and lipase as key contributors, with LiP showing particularly high activity. Scanning electron microscopy showed dense bacterial colonization on coal surfaces, implying efficient biodegradation through direct interaction. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated an increase in free hydroxyl groups in degraded coal, supporting structural breakdown. Degradation products analysis revealed 32% phenolic compounds and 55% long-chain alkanes, providing chemical evidence of lignite decomposition. These results highlight strain N7 as an effective microorganism for lignite biodegradation, offering insights for optimizing microbial coal bioconversion.

Butterfly pea flower (BPF) powder, which is rich in bioactive compounds, was evaluated for the impact of various drying methods on its solubility, physical properties, and chemical composition. Four drying methods were used: thermal drying at 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and natural sun drying. The powders were assessed for solubility time, hygroscopicity, density, flowability, and chemical stability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Solubility times ranged from 148 to 162 s, with no significant differences. The 70 °C dried sample (Sample C) had the fastest dissolution rate and highest hygroscopicity. Total phenolic and anthocyanin contents increased with temperature, peaking in sun-dried samples (Sample D). Density measurements showed Sample C had the highest bulk density and optimal flowability, while Sample D had superior water holding capacity. The SEM analysis revealed morphological differences, with Sample A showing a smooth surface and Sample C exhibiting significant particle disintegration. The XRD analysis showed that Sample C had the highest crystallinity. The FTIR analysis confirmed the stability of key functional groups, with sun-dried samples retaining phenolic compounds. These findings suggest drying methods can optimize BPF powder’s properties, enhancing its bioactivity for health applications.

The world’s population has exceeded eight billion, which will necessitate a tripling of food production in the next three decades to meet basic human needs. The world is now on the verge of a new “Green Revolution”. New agrobioorganic technology represents one of the ways to address famine and malnutrition by enabling sustainable food production. Additionally, it is a means of increasing both the quantity and quality of agricultural products while reducing the negative environmental impact of chemicalization, leading to significant economic, ecological, and social benefits. The elements evaluated in the study are also heavy metals and are harmful to human health. This study investigated the impact of the biostimulant “bioragi” (produced in Georgia) on sugar beet plants. The accumulation of trace metals in plant organs was studied dynamically. Observations were made on the growth, development, and sucrose content of sugar beet mass. The trace metals studied included Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pt, Au, Pb, and Th. Results indicate that the biostimulant bioragi reduced the absorption of trace metals by at least 18% compared to the control plants. Additionally, the mass and sucrose contents of sugar beet plants treated with bioragi increased compared to the control plants.

Green husk is a byproduct of the walnut (Juglans regia L.) and could be a potential source of phytochemicals with important bioactivities. The extracts of J. regia L. green husk collected from the Tuyserkan region of Hamedan province were evaluated for their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities. The chemical composition of crude extracts was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LC-MS analysis of green husk aqueous methanolic extract detected several compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extracts revealed the presence of 1,2-dimethylbenzene (3.4%), methyl 14-methylpentadecanoate (2.82%), and methyl stearate (2.7%) as major compounds. The major components identified in the GC-MS analysis of non-polar hexane extract were (23S)-ethylcholest-5-en-3-β-ol (32.2%), δ-tocopherol (16.8%), lupeol (11.8%), and octadecane (5.7%). The antioxidant activity of the crude extracts was evaluated by DPPH assay, which showed aqueous methanol extract to be a more effective antioxidant agent (22.7%) compared to the hexane extract (14%) at the concentration of 1000 ppm. The findings suggest that methanolic extracts of walnut green husks from the Tuyserkan region are rich in bioactive compounds and exhibit more potent antioxidant activity than hexane extracts, demonstrating their potential use in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Wood color is an important factor influencing the aesthetic and commercial value of timber products. This study aimed to clarify the natural color variation in Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) wood and its relation to anatomical structure and environmental conditions. Samples were collected from two regions in Türkiye (Kaş and Senirkent), differing in elevation and climate. Stem sections from four trees per region were analyzed by separating the pith, heartwood, and sapwood. Color properties were measured using a spectrophotometer in the CIE L*a*b* color space, resulting in 2670 data points. The results showed that sapwood exhibited the highest lightness values (L*), with averages of 65.3 in Kaş and 65.8 in Senirkent, while pith displayed the lowest lightness (59.4 in Kaş, 61.6 in Senirkent). Total color differences (ΔE) between anatomical parts frequently exceeded the perceptible threshold (ΔE > 3), reaching up to 16.7 in the pith and 14.9 in the heartwood of some samples. Moreover, Kaş samples generally exhibited greater color variability than Senirkent, with average ΔE values of 13.4 (pith), 12.6 (heartwood), and 7.0 (sapwood), compared to 9.43, 10.57, and 6.14 in Senirkent, respectively. These findings highlight the combined influence of anatomical and environmental factors on wood color and provide insights for selecting timber for aesthetic purposes and enhancing visual quality in forest management.

Lignocellulosic biomass such as pine wood offers a renewable alternative to fossil resources but remains challenging to convert due to its recalcitrant structure. Efficient pretreatment is essential to overcome this limitation and enable enzymatic hydrolysis. This study aimed to enhance enzymatic saccharification of pine wood chips through a two-step pretreatment combining steam explosion and urea treatment. Pine wood chips were first subjected to steam explosion to degrade hemicellulose and modify lignin structure, followed by ambient-temperature urea treatment (0.5 to 2%) to disrupt hydrogen bonding and increase porosity. Comprehensive chemical, structural, and morphological analyses were conducted, including BET surface area measurements and SEM imaging. The integrated pretreatment significantly improved enzymatic digestibility, with a maximum hydrolysis yield of 82% achieved at 1% urea concentration. Key factors contributing to this enhancement included increased surface area, reduced lignin–enzyme interactions, and improved cellulose accessibility. The combined treatment outperformed either method alone in terms of glucose release. These findings demonstrate the potential of a steam explosion–urea strategy as a cost-effective and scalable approach for pine wood bioconversion within an integrated biorefinery framework.