BioResources (E-Journal)
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Maize and Lupine Biomass as Raw Material for Production of Feed Silage
No full textSustainable animal feed options must balance nutritional, environmental, and ethical considerations. Maize (Zea mays) and yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus) biomass offer promising substrates for producing silage, due to their high nutritional value and potential to support controlled fermentation. Maize is widely used in animal feed, due to its content of digestible carbohydrates and protein. Lupine is a viable alternative to soy, with advantages including high protein and low environmental impact due to its nitrogen-fixing abilities. This study investigated the possible use of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains—L. buchneri 1, P. acidilactici 4, L. buchneri 2.1, and P. acidilactici 2.2—to optimize fermentation of maize and lupine biomass for improved silage quality. Controlled fermentations using these strains resulted in silages with favorable parameters: pH values ranging from 3.8 to 4.4, dry matter content between 35 and 45%, and total acidity in the range of 6.0 to 8.0%. The best results were achieved in a 1:1 maize–lupine mixture, which showed stable LAB counts and optimal fermentation conditions. The results showed the potential of microbial inoculation in improving silage quality. However, the conclusions are based on lab-scale studies and do not address practical factors such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, or long-term storage stability
Effect of Particle Size and Species Type on the Withdrawal Resistance to Screws and Nails in Wood Sawdust – High Density Polyethylene Composites
No full textThe effects of particle size and species type were evaluated relative to the resistance to screwing and nailing of wood-plastic composites (WPC) made from the sawdust of pine, beech, poplar, and mixtures of these species (40%, 20%, and 40%, respectively), as well as alder species with a high-density polyethylene matrix. Wood-plastic composites were made from dried sawdust of the above species, after sizing to a weight ratio of 70% as filler with high-density polyethylene (HDP) by discontinuous pressing at a temperature of 185 °C, in two particle sizes of 40- and 80-mesh. Maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a coupling agent. Then, their resistance to screw and nail penetration was measured and compared according to the BS EN 1382 (2016) standard. With increasing particle size in all species, the resistance to screwing and nailing decreased significantly by about 2 to 13%. There were obvious differences between the resistance to screwing and nailing of the species, but these differences were not significant, and the resistances of the mixtures were near to the averages for these species
Mechanical and Thermal Behavior Analysis of Chicken Feather/Sesbania grandiflora Fibers-based Hybrid Epoxy Composites
No full textThe mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy hybrid composites reinforced with natural fibers were studied, addressing the growing demand for eco-friendly materials. Fibers from chicken feathers (CF) and Sesbania grandiflora (SG) were used together with epoxy resin in composites, which were fabricated using the compression molding technique. Both the CF and SG fiber ratios ranged from 1:2 to 2:1, while fiber-to-resin weight proportions were set at 30:70 and 40:60. The composites were evaluated for mechanical and thermal characteristics in adherence to ASTM standards, with thermal properties assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Process parameters were optimized using mathematical modeling, employing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The hybrid composite with a 30:70 fiber/matrix ratio and a 2:1 CF/SG fiber combination demonstrated superior mechanical and thermal properties while showing reduced water absorption. A 30% fiber loading with a 2:1 CF/SG fiber ratio considerably enhanced the composite’s overall performance. The optimal blending ratio for hybrid composites was a 2:1 weight proportion of CF to SG fibers, offering a promising approach to developing sustainable materials with improved characteristics. This research highlights the potential of natural fibers in creating environmentally friendly composites
Durability of Heat-Treated Eucalyptus Wood Against Decay Fungi
No full textEucalyptus hybrids exhibit rapid growth, and their wood is widely used in construction, furniture production, reconstituted panels, energy, pulp, and paper manufacturing. However, they are commonly affected by decay fungi, which reduce their durability, jeopardizing the integrity of structures and the safety of individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of thermal treatment on the biological resistance of 14-year-old hybrid Eucalyptus clone wood. Chemical analyses were conducted on the wood (lignin and holocellulose), and tests with brown rot fungi (Gloeophyllum trabeum and Rhodonia placenta) and white rot fungi (Irpex lacteus) were performed over 12 weeks, along with colorimetric variable assessments. It was concluded that brown rot fungi caused more severe damage to the wood, also influencing its coloration. Under the conditions studied, a temperature of 200 °C promoted wood deterioration of the clones by xylophagous fungi. Regarding resistance classes, the clones were classified as highly resistant (A, C, and E) to the fungus I. lacteus, regardless of heat treatment. For the fungi G. trabeum and R. placenta, the clones detected as highly resistant (A and C) were those exposed to a temperature of 185 °C
Bending Performance of Sandwich Flooring with Wood Exterior and Two-layer Cork Interior Reinforced Separately with Metal, Glass Fiber, or Carbon Fiber
No full textTo expand the potential of cork composite wood flooring as an interior material, this study investigated the bending performance of sandwich-structured cork composite wood flooring. The cork composite wood flooring was composed of temperate and tropical wood species as face layer and a cork board reinforced with metal, glass fiber, or carbon fiber placed between two cork boards as the core layer. The MOE value of wood flooring with merbau (M) had the highest value (6.71 GPa) and that of larch (La) had the lowest value (5.40 GPa). Overall, the MOE value of wood flooring with tropical wood species had higher value than those with temperate wood species, which had lower densities. According to the core reinforcements, the CM (cork board-metal) type showed a higher MOE value than the CG (cork board-glass fiber) and CC (cork board-carbon fiber) types. However, within the specific MOE, the order was CG > CC > CM. The ratio measured to calculated MOE ranged from 1.0 to 1.1, it showed a similar or slightly higher value than the measured MOE. The MOR of wood flooring had the highest value (51.0 MPa) in that with teak (T) and had the lowest value (34.9 MPa) in that with larch (La). The specific MOR of the wood floorings with cork board reinforced with glass fiber and carbon fiber was 20 to 40% higher than those reinforced with metal. Stable fracture behavior was observed for the cork composite wood flooring reinforced with metal, glass fiber, or carbon fiber
Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles using Conocarpus lancifolius Leaf and their Activity against some Phytopathogenic Fungi
No full textIron oxide (FeONP) and copper oxide (CuONP) nanoparticles were synthesized using the leaf extract of Conocarpus lancifolius. Their activity against two phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria solani and Fusarium solani, was investigated. The colonies’ diameter and morphological changes in the fungal hyphae and conidia treated with nanoparticles were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CuONPs showed oval particles with a wide particle size distribution of ~57 nm in length and ~28 nm in width. FeONPs showed elliptical disks with a wider particle size distribution of 32 to 39 nm in length and 5 to 14 nm in width. Both types of nanoparticles exhibited significant antifungal activity against A. solani and F. solani. CuONPs inhibited A. solani growth by 88.9% to 91.1% in terms of the fungal colony diameter after 12 days of incubation. They completely inhibited the growth of F. solani. In contrast, FeONPs reduced the growth of A. solani from 68.9% to 73.3%. The SEM images suggest that CuONPs and FeONPs damaged and distorted the fungus structure, consequently limiting and inhibiting fungal growth. Therefore, the green synthesized nanoparticles could be used as antifungal candidates to protect plants against phytopathogenic fungi
Cleaning Fungal Stains on Cotton and Wood-containing Paper Using Protease
No full textProtease enzyme at concentrations of 50, 75, and 100 U (μmol/min), in both solution and paste form, was evaluated for cleaning stains caused by Aspergillus flavus. This applied study was conducted on paper sheets that had been formed from either cotton or wood-derived cellulose fibers. After cleaning, the infected samples were examined and analyzed to identify any changes and assess the effectiveness of the cleaning process. Color change, digital microscopy, ATR-FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and pH measurement were employed. The results confirmed that the most effective treatment was the enzyme paste form at 50 and 75 U, as this was able to remove existing fungus spots on the surface or permeate within the fibers. IR spectroscopy confirmed that the chemical composition of both cotton and wood paper remained unchanged. Conversely, there was a significant increase in the characteristic vibrations of water and the crystallization sites of cellulose at the wavenumber of 1300 cm-1
Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles Using Waste-Derived Bamboo Cellulose for Enhanced Catalytic and Antibacterial Applications
No full textCopper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were prepared using waste-derived cellulose from bamboo biomass as a functional additive. The cellulose, recovered from an alkaline dissolution process, enhanced the dispersion and structural integrity of CuO nanoparticles (NPs). The CuO prepared in the presence of waste cellulose (CuO-C) exhibited a specific surface area of 32 m²/g, compared to 7 m²/g for pure CuO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a feather-like CuO structure influenced by the presence of the waste-derived cellulose matrix. The catalytic activity of CuO-C was tested through the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), achieving complete conversion within 15 min. The synthesis cost of CuO-C was approximately RM 3.30 per gram. Antibacterial tests confirmed activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using a highly alkaline solution from the cellulose dissolution process to produce low-cost CuO with improved catalytic and antibacterial properties
Numerical Calculation Method of Dynamic Responses for Wood Structures with Frequency-related Damping Parameter
No full textThe loss factor of wood material is frequency related, which directly affects the calculation method of dynamic responses for wood structures. In this paper, the relationship between loss factor and damping coefficient was determined based on equal dissipated energy. Combined with the time-domain and frequency-domain methods, a modal superposition method was proposed to calculate the dynamic response of wood structures. Compared with the frequency-domain method, the proposed method can additionally consider the transient vibration responses of wood structures. Compared with the equivalent time-domain method based on constant loss factor, the proposed method can additionally consider the influence of frequency related loss factor. The proposed method should be preferred to calculate dynamic responses of wood structures
Comparative Evaluation of Hydrodistillation, Supercritical Fluid Extraction, and Organic Solvent Extraction on Leaf Essential Oils of Chamaecyparis formosensis and C. obtusa var. formosana and Their Potential as Wood-Protective Agents
No full textHydrodistillation (HD), organic solvent extraction (OSE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were compared in terms of the chemical composition and antifungal activity of leaf essential oils from Chamaecyparis formosensis and C. obtusa var. formosana. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed notable differences among extraction methods. In C. formosensis, HD-derived oil was dominated by α-pinene (83.4%), SFE-derived oil by kaur-16-ene (51.1%), and OSE-derived oil by phytol (44.4%). In C. obtusa var. formosana, HD oil was rich in sabinene (36.2%) and thujopsene (22.5%), SFE oil in totarol (50.9%), and OSE oil in thujopsene (27.6%) and cedrol (24.8%). Bioassays demonstrated that OSE oil of C. formosensis exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects against Trichoderma sp., Trametes versicolor, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Gloeophyllum trabeum. For C. obtusa var. formosana, HD oil was most effective against Trichoderma sp. and L. sulphureus, whereas SFE oil was most active against G. trabeum. These results highlight the strong influence of the extraction method on both chemical composition and antifungal efficacy of leaf essential oils