Volume 20 Issue 4

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for renewable energy and environmental remediation. The performance of MFCs is greatly influenced by the binder materials used on the electrodes, which must have good conductivity, stability, and compatibility with microorganisms. Synthetic binders, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyuretane (PU), geopolymer binder, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), are commonly used due to their electrochemical properties but are expensive and not environmentally friendly. In contrast, natural binders, such as chitosan, sucrose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and vegetable oils, provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review synthesizes findings from various studies, comparing the electrochemical properties, stability, and sustainability of chemical and natural binders. The review identifies key research gaps and suggests future directions to improve the performance of natural binders in MFCs, making them more viable for large-scale applications in terms of cost and environmental impact. Natural binders have the potential to be a sustainable alternative in MFC electrode development.

Rapid and accurate detection of crude protein and starch content in alfalfa-potato pomace pellets is crucial for improving their processing and enhancing nutritional quality. In this study, hyperspectral images of alfalfa-potato pomace pellets in the near-infrared (NIR) range (900 to 1700 nm) were acquired. A support vector regression (SVR) model was developed by combining various spectral preprocessing methods and effective wavelength selection techniques. Textural features from the surface of the first principal component (PC1) image sample were also extracted using the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and fused with the spectral data, significantly improving the model’s prediction accuracy. The results indicated that the SNV-GB-COR-SVR model performed best in predicting crude protein content, with an R²p of 0.907 and an RMSEP of 0.5548, while the SNV-CARS-ENT-SVR model was most effective in predicting starch content, with an R²p of 0.7915 and an RMSEP of 1.3970.

Hybrid epoxy composites were reinforced with a constant 20 wt% of Luffa acutangula fiber (LAF) and varying Sal wood sawdust (SWD) content ranging from 0 to 25 wt%. The evaluation covered mechanical properties including tensile, flexural, impact strengths, hardness, and water absorption behavior. Results indicated a notable enhancement in all mechanical properties up to 15 wt% SWD, with a slight reduction observed beyond this point. The composite with 20LAF/15SWD exhibited superior performance, achieving tensile, flexural, and impact strengths of 46 MPa, 66 MPa, and 3.12 J, respectively. Shore D hardness and water absorption tests confirmed increased material rigidity and decreased moisture affinity up to the 15 wt% SWD level. Scanning electron microscopy revealed improved fiber–matrix bonding and homogeneous filler distribution at the optimal formulation. These findings highlight the potential of combining Luffa acutangula fiber and sawdust as sustainable reinforcements for high-performance biocomposites.

A carbon adsorbent material with a specific surface area of 342 m²/g was prepared via chemical activation, using lignin as the raw material and CsCl as the activator. The adsorbent’s structure was characterized and its performance for methylene blue solution was investigated. Additionally, adsorption experiments of crystalline violet dye were conducted at different temperatures to study the adsorption thermodynamics. The results indicated that the prepared activated carbon material featured a smooth surface with abundant pores. Its adsorption capacity for methylene blue reached 161 mg/g, enabling rapid and efficient adsorption of methylene blue solution. Additionally, it exhibited excellent adsorption performance for crystalline violet solution: at 40 °C, the saturated adsorption capacity reached 243 mg/g with a removal of 93%, and the adsorption process was confirmed to be a spontaneous thermodynamic reaction. The experiments confirmed that CsCl can serve as an activator for activating lignin-based raw materials to prepare carbon samples.

Wood anatomical characterization is a key method for species identification and for combating illegal logging. This study aimed to provide a detailed macroscopic anatomical characterization of twelve wood species from the Brazilian Amazon, supporting species identification in forensic analysis and contributing to educational resources in wood anatomy. The samples were collected from a sawmill in Colniza, northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. Three woods were identified at the species level, and nine were identified at the genus level. Cedrela sp., Hymenaea sp., Hymenolobium sp., Handroanthus sp., and Peltogyne sp. presented well-demarcated growth rings. Diffuse porosity was common, except in Cedrela sp. In Manilkara sp., vessels occurred in radial chains, whereas Handroanthus sp. was notable for pore obstructions caused by a yellowish substance. The main parenchyma type was aliform and/or confluent, along with marginal bands. Six species displayed storied rays. Macroscopic analysis proved effective for wood identification, as parenchyma, vessel, and growth-ring features were sufficient to identify these commercial species at the genus level.

This study aimed to determine the optimal enzyme combination conditions for improving the saccharification efficiency of softwood biomass (Larix kaempferi). For this purpose, cellulase derived from Trichoderma sp. KMF006 was combined with a commercial enzyme (Cellic® CTec3). Comparative hydrolysis experiments with individual enzymes showed that L. kaempferi exhibited a lower glucose yield than hardwood, suggesting the need for a complementary enzyme combination. A Plackett-Burman Design (PBD) was used to identify significant variables, including substrate concentration, enzyme loading, pH, and the KMF006 blending ratio. The significant factors were further optimized using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The optimal conditions were determined to be a substrate concentration of 9% (w/v), enzyme loading of 60 FPU/g-glucan, pH of 6.0, and the KMF006 blending ratio of 25.5%. The predicted maximum glucose yield under these conditions was 63.9%, representing a 21.8% increase compared to CTec3 alone and a 32.4% increase compared to KMF006 alone. These results suggest that up to 25% of the commercial enzyme dosage can be substituted with KMF006 without compromising hydrolysis performance. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of an enzyme combination approach for enhancing softwood saccharification.

Eucalyptus is a key species in global tropical hardwood industries and has gained importance in Malaysia since the establishment of Eucalyptus pellita plantations in 2008. Its versatile, durable wood supports various sectors, such as furniture, construction, and pulp production. High-quality wood enhances product longevity, reduces processing costs, and increases plantation value. To improve productivity and wood quality, selecting superior planting materials through genotype screening is vital. This study evaluated the growth performance of eight E. pellita genotypes as part of a breeding program for industrial applications. A progeny trial was conducted at Agricultural Park UPM, Puchong, Selangor, with field measurements including tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), root collar diameter, volume, crown health, multiple leaders, and leaf browning recorded over a year after 31 months of planting. Genotype EP03 achieved the greatest height (17.7 to 18.0 m), while EP03 and EP11 had the largest DBH (14.1 to 14.0 cm). U × G recorded the highest volume (0.17 m³), followed by EP03 (0.15 m³) and EP11 (0.14 m³). EP03 and EP11 also exhibited superior crown health and lower leaf disease severity. Strong correlations were observed between DBH and both height and volume. Overall, EP03 and EP11 showed consistently superior growth and qualitative traits, making them promising candidates for forestry applications.

In home-based elder care, kitchen cabinets serve a critical function in the daily lives of older adults. However, most cabinets currently available in the Chinese furniture market are designed for young and middle-aged users, neglecting the specific requirements of the elderly population. To improve user satisfaction with age-friendly kitchen cabinet products, this study proposed a conceptual design method based on the Kano-QFD-FBS integration model. First, customer requirements were identified through behavioral observation and in-depth interviews, then systematically categorized and prioritized using the Kano model. Subsequently, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) was employed to translate customer requirements into actionable design requirements. Finally, the seven key design elements derived from this process were incorporated into the Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) model to determine the product’s structural components. This integrated approach enables a precise mapping from customer requirements to design elements, facilitating the development of age-friendly kitchen cabinet concepts. The study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the Kano-QFD-FBS model in age-friendly design research, providing valuable guidance and innovative perspectives for age-friendly kitchen design in China.

In the context of increasing demands for health, comfort, and aesthetic quality in office environments, this study investigated how surface materials of office chairs influence users’ emotional responses through visual–tactile perception. Ten typical office chair surface material samples were sourced from manufacturers and evaluated in a controlled laboratory setting. Participants provided feedback via a semantic differential questionnaire, designed using the Kawakita Jiro (KJ) method and expert screening. Visual-tactile evaluation data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing factor analysis to explore perceptual groupings and latent emotional dimensions. Results showed four material clusters aligned with different user needs, including support, comfort, skin-friendliness, and breathability. Factor analysis extracted four core dimensions: physical comfort, thermal-affective feedback, quality–breathability trade-off, and material essence. To further support material selection, a method was established using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to clarify the weight of each perceptual factor. This study integrated Kansei engineering with visual-tactile synesthesia theory to construct a multidimensional evaluation framework, providing implications for the design of office chairs with greater attention to emotional and health-related factors.

The disposal of residues from traditional Chinese medicine results in resource waste and poses non-negligible environmental concerns. While the synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from green raw materials has been widely studied, the use of Chinese medicine residues (CMR) which are rich in ligno-cellulosic components as a carbon source for CDs preparation remained largely unexplored. Notably, converting CMR into carbon dots (CMR-CDs) offered a dual benefit: it enhanced resource utilization and mitigated the environmental impact of these waste materials. In this study, CMR-CDs were synthesized via a simple, eco-friendly one-step hydrothermal method for metal ion detection. The CMR-CDs demonstrated highly selective fluorescence quenching toward Fe³⁺, with a strong linear correlation (R² = 0.999) between fluorescence intensity and Fe³⁺ concentration (0 to 516 μmol/L). The detection limit was determined to be 6.0 μmol/L. These findings suggest that CMR-CDs hold significant potential for rapid and sensitive Fe³⁺ detection in future applications, while also highlighting the value of ligno-cellulosic waste in sustainable nanomaterial synthesis.