BioResources (E-Journal)
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Structure and Properties of PBST/ZrP Nanocomposites Under the Influence of Stretching-Lamination Force Fields
No full textPoly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST)/ layered zirconium phosphate (ZrP) composite was prepared by melt blending. The dispersion and orientation of ZrP within the PBST matrix were subsequently modified using a stretching-lamination post-treatment process. Effects of filler content and stretching ratio on the microstructure, rheological properties, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and barrier performance of the composites were investigated. Results showed that after post treatment, sliding occurred between the layers of ZrP, enhancing its dispersion within the PBST matrix and aligning it along the direction of the applied force. Furthermore, the degree of orientation increased with higher stretching ratios. In the stretching ratio of 300%, the intensity ratio of the crystal plane characteristic peaks (I(002)/I(100)) for the composite increased from 3.48 to 7.86. When the ZrP content was 3 wt% and the stretching ratio was 300%, compared with composite without post stretching, its tensile strength and elongation at break improved 10.7% and 14.4%, respectively. This study presents a novel solution to the dispersion challenges of nanofillers in composites from the perspective of processing methods, while also offering a solid foundation for the subsequent incorporation of nanocellulose to develop bio-based composites with higher mechanical strength and barrier properties
Effect of Edge Banding Thickness, Dowels, and Adhesive Types on Withdrawal Strength in Oriented Strand Board
No full textComposite materials, edge banding, and wooden dowels are being used in inner decorations and the construction of furniture frames. However, there is little information available concerning the withdrawal strength of various fasteners and in particular, dowels in these materials. The aim of this study was to determine the withdrawal strengths of PVC edge bandings with 0.8-, 1-, and 2-mm thicknesses, and dowels produced from six different wood species (ash, black pine, beech, chestnut, oak, and Uludağ fir) bonded parallel to the surfaces of oriented strand board with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc-D4) or polyurethane (PUR-D4). According to TS 4539 standard, the effect of wooden dowel species, thickness of edge banding, and the type of adhesives on the withdrawal strength were determined. Withdrawal strength values of the PUR-D4 adhesive was found to be 26% higher than the strength values of the PVAc-D4 adhesive. The highest withdrawal strength was obtained for beech dowel bonded using PUR-D4 in the samples with 0.8 mm PVC edge banding (4.782 N/mm2), while the lowest withdrawal strength value was obtained for Uludağ fir dowel with the PVAc-D4 in the samples with 2 mm PVC edge banding (2.529 N/mm2). These values are higher than the predictive statement that allows designers to estimate the withdrawal strengths of dowels.
Colorimetric Sensing of Chlorpyrifos Pesticides Using Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Neem Root Extracts
No full textThis study explores the colorimetric sensing of chlorpyrifos (CP) pesticides using neem root extracts-synthesized silver nanoparticles (NRE-AgNPs). The NRE-AgNPs were synthesized via a cost-effective bio-reduction method from neem (Azadirachta indica) and evaluated for their pesticide’s colorimetric sensing property. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of tannins (80.4 mg/mL), phenols (60.8 mg/mL), flavonoids (54.6 mg/mL), alkaloids (28.9 mg/mL), reducing sugars (59.1 mg/mL), and cardiac glycosides (47.6 mg/mL), which facilitated nanoparticle formation and stability. Scanning electron microscopy revealed nanoparticles with an average particle size of 68.3 nm, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum confirmed the presence of silver (0.14% atomic, 0.25% weight) alongside stabilizing organic compounds. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed NRE-AgNP synthesis with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 405 nm. The nanoparticles responded sensitively to the presence of the chlorpyrifos, especially at 300 to 350 nm, marking a clear deviation from their original 405 nm signature, thus confirming the viability of AgNPs as an optical sensor. This study underscores the potential of neem root-based AgNPs as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for pesticide sensing, offering promising applications in the environmental field
Toward Sustainable Fertilizer Use: Fundamental Analysis of Ashes from Bamboo By-Products
No full textBamboo is increasingly recognized as a sustainable biomass resource, supporting the global transition toward renewable raw materials for construction, landscaping, pulp and cellulose production, and high-performance bio-composites. However, intensive harvesting and processing leave behind substantial quantities of leaves, branches, and stem tips that are typically left in the field or incinerated, undermining the material’s overall environmental benefits. Valorizing these by-products is therefore essential to closing the bamboo value loop, yet systematic data on their composition and reuse options remain limited. To address this gap, this work examined the chemical compositions of the by-products (i.e., leaves and branches) of three bamboo species native to Korea —Giant Bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides), Henon Bamboo (P. nigra), and Moso Bamboo (P. edulis)—and characterized the ashes obtained after controlled combustion. All ashes were strongly alkaline (pH 10 to 11) and exceptionally rich in plant-essential nutrients (K, Ca, Mg and P). This is particularly significant, as it is the first study to demonstrate that bamboo by-product ash is a nutrient-dense material with inherent liming properties, making it suitable for use as a fertilizer or soil amendment. These findings lay an important foundation for the future agricultural and industrial utilization of bamboo residues
Sustainable Utilization of Agave-Derived Sitosterol: A Review of Isolation Methods and Pharmacological Activities
No full textAgave species are increasingly recognized as promising sources of bioactive phytochemicals with therapeutic potential. Among these, β-sitosterol (BSS) and its glucoside (BSSG) have gained attention for their wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. In vitro, these compounds enhance fibroblast viability and regulate cytokine production. In vivo, extracts from Agave angustifolia bagasse (BagEE), obtained through microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), significantly accelerate wound closure and re-epithelialization. MAE, particularly when combined with alkaline catalysts, yields higher concentrations of BSS and BSSG compared to conventional methods. However, despite its environmental and efficiency advantages, supercritical fluid extraction remains underutilized for isolating phytosterols from Agave. This review highlights interspecies variation in bioactive profiles, the critical impact of extraction methodology on compound yield and activity, and the potential for valorizing agro-industrial residues. These findings emphasize the value of Agave-derived sterols in the development of sustainable, plant-based therapeutics. Further research is needed to standardize extraction protocols, achieve comprehensive characterization of active metabolites, and evaluate their clinical efficacy—advancing innovation in bioproduct development aligned with circular economy principles
Environmental and Chemical Investigation of Mortar of Termite Nests at Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia for Biomimicry of Ecofriendly Constructions: A New Construction Theory
No full textNests made by the Najdian termite, Microtermes najdensis, were studied. The climate, soil, intact wood, and nest wall were investigated. The entryways of the termite nests were located at the southwest direction, which promotes better ventilation. The internal temperature (IT) was warmer than the outer temperature (OT) during cold days, while it was cooler than the hottest OT on hot days, and vice versa. The IT had more constancy than the OT. Moreover, the IT trended toward the upper OT’s limit, indicating that termites prefer the hotter atmospheres. Lignin is the prominent tracer of the organic matter used as a binder for the nest wall due to its gluability and resistance to enzymatic or fungal degradation. Features resembling microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were discovered for the first time in the nest mortar reinforcing Klason lignin. Their presence was attributed to enzymatic hydrolysis by the termites and/or their accompanying fungal community. The gross heat of combustion (GHCs) of the intact wood and nest wall were studied. Finally, a theory illustrating the fabrication of termite nests was postulated
Effect of Wind Exposure on Stem Stand Characteristics and Anatomical Features of Fir Trees
No full textWind causes significant damage to trees in many parts of the world, affecting tree growth, morphology, and forest ecology. The risk of wind damage is believed to be increasing due to global climate change. In this study, effects of wind exposure on the anatomical traits and stem stand characteristics in stands of Trojan fir trees (Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani [Asch. and Sint. ex Boiss] Coode and Cullen) were investigated. The study was conducted on Ilgaz Mountain, northwest of Kastamonu City, Türkiye. The wind-damaged and undamaged Trojan fir trees were identified, and their wood anatomical and stand characteristics were compared. Tree-ring width and wood anatomical traits (tracheid length, tracheid lumen area, tracheid wall thickness, and ray width) were higher in undamaged fir trees than in wind-damaged fir trees. It has been suggested that prolonged exposure to wind in Trojan fir trees may result in the development of changes in wood anatomical traits and tree rings such that more wind-exposed trees could produce shorter and thinner tracheid traits, because tracheid cell development processes could be negatively affected by wind exposure. However, wind-damaged Trojan fir trees had greater stem height and diameter, slenderness ratio, and stand basal area than undamaged fir trees. In this study, tall trees tended to be the most vulnerable and least resistant to wind damage
Using Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica) Dead Wood in Wood Fiberboard Production
No full textThis paper considers the possibility of using Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) wood damaged by Polygraphus proximus Blandford after various periods of its death (up to 19 years) as raw material to produce fiberboard. Damaged wood was mechanically processed into chips of various dimensions as per GOST 15815(1983). The produced chips were used to prepare wood fiber pulp using thermomechanical methods and two stages of grinding with approximately the same conditions as those used to produce wet fiberboard. Fiber refining was performed using fibrillating refiner discs with all other conditions being equal. The paper considered the changes in quality indicators and fractional composition of fibers during the preparation of wood fiber pulp after different periods of wood death, as well as physical and mechanical properties of produced boards. The obtained research results may indicate the possibility of effectively using damaged Siberian fir wood after different periods of its death as raw material to produce fiberboards, while providing physical and mechanical properties of products (density 960 to 1070 kg/m3, static bending strength 36 to 44 MPa, internal bonding 0.51 to 0.7 MPa, modulus of elasticity 3880 to 4750 MPa, deflection 2.7 to 3.6 mm) that comply with GOST 4598-2018 (EN 622-2), while not requiring binding resins
Physical and Bending Properties of Beech Laminated Veneer Lumber Reinforced with Carbon Fiber Fabric
No full textNine-layer laminated veneer lumber (LVL) 1300 by 850 mm, in nominal thickness of 20 mm, was produced using beech veneer and reinforced LVL (RLVL), by inserting carbon fiber fabric between the veneer sheets. The research aimed to assess the enhancement of flexural properties, both in edgewise and flatwise bending, of beech LVL reinforced with carbon fiber fabric. Two types of reinforcements were made, using two types of adhesives: phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and polyurethane (PUR), in the industrial conditions. In the first group of samples (K1), the reinforcements were placed further from the neutral axis, and in the second group (K2) closer to the neutral axis. These groups were compared to the unreinforced control sample (K). Some physical properties, bending behavior parallel to the grain, and failure mode were determined and analyzed. Edgewise bending strength of the RLVL was about 11% higher than the control in the case of PF adhesive, while flatwise bending strength was about 40% lower than the control in the case of PUR adhesive. The experimental data were verified using the ANOVA model. The most important results of the study define different behavior and fracture mechanisms for each reinforcement and adhesive, highlighting the potential of RLVL for structural applications
Demystifying User Needs in Wardrobe Furniture Design: A Network Analysis via Text Mining and DEMATEL-ANP Integration
No full textCore user demands of wardrobe furniture design are becoming increasingly complex. Traditional design methods fail to systematically analyze the interrelationships among these multidimensional factors. This study integrated web text mining, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to construct a causal network model for wardrobe design, and further optimized design proposals through the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). By applying Python technology, user evaluation data were extracted from mainstream e-commerce platforms, with high-frequency user demand keywords being identified and categorized into four key dimensions. DEMATEL was employed to quantify the causal intensity and centrality of the identified factors; ANP was subsequently utilized to construct a network hierarchy, revealing the feedback mechanisms between functional modules and user experience. Finally, TOPSIS was applied to rank three design proposals, among which Option 3—featuring flexible space partitioning, auto-sensing lighting, and anti-tip design—was selected as the optimal solution. The findings demonstrate that integrating text mining with the DEMATEL-ANP-TOPSIS framework can effectively identify the prioritization of user needs, thereby providing scientific decision support for furniture design