Volume 7 Issue 2

The effects of chemical modification of orange peel, bagasse, and a mixture of peel and bagasse for lead ion removal from aqueous medium were evaluated. The chemical modification of biomass was carried out with sodium hydroxide and citric acid to introduce carboxylate groups on the surface of the biomass. Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of carboxylate groups at 1735 cm-1. Adsorption isotherms performed by static adsorption experiments fitted very well to the linear Langmuir and Freundlich models. The experiments were carried out at pH 5 during 500 min of shaking time. Orange modified peel (O-MP) presented the highest adsorption capacity (84.5 mg g-1), notably higher than other biosorbents described in the literature. The kinetic studies showed that the process obeyed a pseudo-second-order rate expression, thus indicating a strong interaction between the biosorbent and adsorbate. It was found that the chemical modifications of sorbents promoted an adsorption energetically more spontaneous, as indicated by negative values of Gibbs free energy. On the other hand, desorption studies showed low leaching of lead ions from the biosorbent, thus confirming the strong interaction of lead ions and the biosorbent. The satisfactory maximum adsorption capacity obtained and negligible cost of biosorbent makes the sub-products of orange a reliable natural material for the removal of lead ions from aqueous effluents.

A simple approach to fabricate hollow silica nanorods is reported, using nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) as templates. Uniform NCC with the length of ca. 100 nm and a diameter of ca. 10 nm were prepared by hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in strong sulfuric acid condition. NCC was used as a template to prepare a core-shell composite of silica and NCC. The sol-gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was employed to coat NCC with a nano thickness of silica in the presence of ammonia. Finally, hollow silica nanorods were obtained by calcination of the composite at 600°C to remove the organic cellulose template completely. The obtained hollow silica nanorods were found to have uniform size and shape: with a length of ca. 100 nm, an inner diameter close to the original diameter of NCC, and a thickness of around 10 to 15 nm. These results suggest that NCC is an excellent template for manufacturing nano hollow materials with uniform shape and size.

To further improve the expression level of recombinant xylanase in Pichia pastoris, the xynB gene, encoding the mature peptide from Aspergillus niger NL-1, was designed and synthesized based on the synonymous condon bias of P. pastoris and optimized G+C content. 155 nucleotides were changed, and the GC content decreased from 57.7% to 43.6%. The synthetic xynB was inserted into the pPICZaA and then integrated into P. pastoris GS115. The activity of the recombinant xylanase reached 1414.7 U/mL, induced with 0.8% methanol after 14-day cultivation at a temperature of 28oC in shake flasks, which was 267% higher than that of the native gene. Furthermore, the maximum xylanase activity of 20424.2 U/mL was obtained by high-density fermentation in a 5-L fermenter, which was the highest xylanase expression in P. pastoris yet reported. The recombinant xylanase had its optimal activity at a pH of 5.0 and temperature of 50oC. The recombinant xylanase was stable over a pH range of 4.5 to 8.0. Thus, this report provides an industrial means to produce the recombinant xylanase in P. pastoris.

Bi-layer hybrid biocomposites were fabricated by hand lay-up technique by reinforcing oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and jute fibre mats with epoxy matrix. Hybrid composites were prepared by varying the relative weight fraction of the two fibres. The physical (void content, density, dimensional stability), and chemical resistant properties of hybrid composites were evaluated. When the jute fibre loading increased in hybrid composites, physical and chemical resistant properties of hybrid composites were enhanced. Void content of hybrid composites decreased with an increase in jute fibre loading because jute fibres showed better fibre/matrix interface bonding, which leads to a reduction in voids. The density of hybrid composite increased as the quantity of jute fibre loading increased. The hybridization of the jute fibres with EFB composite improved the dimensional stability of the hybrid composites. The performance of hybrid composites towards chemical reagents improved with an increase in jute fibre loading as compared to the EFB composite. The combination of oil palm EFB/jute fibres with epoxy matrix produced hybrid biocomposites material that is competitive to synthetic composites.

Pulps were sampled from three major points of a deinking pulping line and classified as fibers fraction, fines fraction, and aqueous phase, respectively, then extracted with tetrahydrofuran (THF) or methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Sticky contaminants in the extractives were examined by GC-MS analysis. The results showed that the contaminants can be grouped as adhesive substances, wood extractives, lignin-derivatives, and other organic acids, of which the adhesive substances were accounted as the major component. Contents of sticky components in each group and their removal were further evaluated according to the related unit operation. Adhesives remaining in fibers and fines fractions were removed by the post-flotation. Wood extractives and degraded residual lignins were also released to some extent from pulp fibers during heat-dispersing, and then removed during the post-flotation.

Brazil is one of the major producers of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in the world and consequently produces large quantities of waste such as sugarcane bagasse, which can be used as inert support for the production of aroma compounds by SSF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the centesimal composition and particle size distribution of sugar cane bagasse, as well as its applicability as support for the production of 6-pentyl-α-pyrone by SSF. Analyses were performed in triplicate to evaluate the levels of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and moisture in the waste. Also evaluated were the particle size distribution and morphology structure of the sugarcane bagasse. The aroma compound produced shows that the studied waste can be used for 6PP production by Trichoderma harzianum IOC 4042 by SSF process. By kinetic production of aroma it is concluded that the seventh day of fermentation yielded the largest production of the aroma compound, as published for other studies.

The influence of a chelating surfactant, different foaming agents, cationic polyelectrolytes, pH value, and temperature on the purification efficiency of process waters from a mechanical pulp mill has been studied by flotation in a 1 L customized unit. Turbidity measurements and gas chromatography (GC) were carried out to determine the removal and characteristics of dissolved and colloidal substances (DisCo). The manganese ion content in the process waters before flotation and the metal chelate removal capacity by flotation were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) measurements. It was found that a 99% removal of complex bound manganese ions and a 94% decrease in turbidity of the TMP water produced at the laboratory can be achieved in a single-stage flotation with a chelating surfactant and a foaming agent. Furthermore, a 91% decrease in turbidity, the removal of up to 96% of resin and fatty acids, and 93% of triglycerides from TMP water can be obtained after application of a foaming agent.

This study evaluates the individual and interaction effects of wood extractives, acid copper chromate (ACC), and boric acid (B) on the resistance to fungus of treated wood species. Walnut (Juglans regia L.) heartwood extractives were extracted with hot water, methanol, and ethanol solvents. Test specimens were prepared from beech sapwood (Fagus orientalis) to meet BS 838 (1961) requirements, then exposed to white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor, for 14 weeks under laboratory conditions. Extractives of walnut heartwood contributed to increased resistance against fungus attack in the presence of B preservative only. The lowest weight loss (0.12%) occurred in the samples treated with 3.5% hot water extract and 1% boric acid, and the highest weight loss occurred in the control samples (23.7%). Results indicated that there was significant difference between the weight loss and actual retention for all treatments, but there was not any significant difference between the weight loss of treatments containing B preservative. The weight loss of samples treated with hot water extract (18.32%) was less than samples treated with methanol and ethanol extracts (21.5% and 23.1%, respectively). There was significant difference between the individual and interaction effects of wood extractives on the resistance to fungus of treated wood species. An emulsified mixture of B and walnut heartwood extractives controlled decay fungus on beech wood better than the mixture of ACC and walnut heartwood extractives, but ACC alone controlled decay fungus on beech wood better than the emulsified mixture of ACC and walnut heartwood extractives.

In this study Mikania micrantha particle (MP) and fiber (MF) were added to recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) for producing natural fiber (or particle) reinforced plastic composites (NFRPC) by the flat-platen pressing process. The results showed that the flexural strength and stiffness of NFRPC were significantly improved through incorporating M. micrantha particle and fiber. Higher aspect ratio of reinforcement displayed stronger mechanical properties. The vertical density profile in composites significantly influenced the mechanical properties of NFRPC. A conventional V-shaped profile and a uniform vertical density profile (homo-profile) were observed in MP and MF based NFRPC, respectively. Additionally, with increasing lignocellulose content, a more uniform vertical density profile and higher wood screw holding strength were observed. These results indicate M. micrantha particle and fiber are excellent reinforcements for NFRPC applications.

The dimensional variations of green wood samples induced by organic solvents have been studied. The solvents used (ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and acetonitrile) covered a wide range of polarity and were studied pure and in aqueous solutions over a wide range of concentrations. Samples of normal and tension wood of poplar were used in order to minimize the effect of hydrophobic extractives on the wood-solvent interactions. The evolution of wood volume and of tangential strain with the concentration of the organic solvents shows a behavior similar to gels, with a significant swelling for solutions of intermediate polarity. The similarity of volume obtained in water and less polar pure organic solvents strikingly contrasted the different effects of water and organic solvents on dry wood. Low-polarity solvents were extremely effective in the stress release of tension wood, as indicated by the pattern of longitudinal shrinkage. Solvent exchange does not affect the mesoporous structure of the cell walls of tension wood and is a promising way to reduce internal stress in wood products.