BioResources (E-Journal)
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Pectin-rich Banana Peel Varieties: A Low-cost Biomass for Pectinase Production by Aspergillus flavus in Solid-state Fermentation and its Effect on the Clarification of Orange Juice
No full textA total of five pectin-rich banana peels, including those of two Musa paradisiaca cultivars (nendran and kadali) and three Musa acuminata varieties (matti, palayankodan, and robusta), were used for pectinase production by Aspergillus flavus via solid-state fermentation (SSF). Comparative analysis revealed highest pectin content in the palayankodan peel (18.09 ± 0.29%). The palayankodan peel variety presented 135 ± 2.2 U/gds pectinase activity in SSF using A. flavus, whereas robusta peels presented 108 ± 1.9 U/gds pectinase activity in SSF. A one-factor-at-a-time experiment was performed, and the variables moisture, pH, and fermentation period affected enzyme production. A central composite design was used to optimize pectinase production in SSF via three prominent variables (moisture content, pH, and fermentation period). The experimental result was statistically significant (p<0.01), and twofold enzyme production was achieved. The crude pectinase was extracted from the fermented medium and used as a clarifying agent. The pectinase-treated orange juice presented a decreased turbidity compared to the untreated control. The amount of total sugar and total suspended solids was reduced, whereas the total pH increased. Therefore, the A. flavus strain can be utilized for large-scale production of pectinase, which could meet the growing industry demands
Closing the Loop: Recycling PLA Waste from 3D Printing into Value-Added Filament at NC State University
No full textThe rapid growth of 3D printing in university makerspaces has created a new but often overlooked waste stream: discarded polylactic acid (PLA) filament from failed prints, support structures, and design errors. Although PLA is a bio-based and recyclable thermoplastic, most of this material currently ends up in landfills. This paper outlines a pilot project at NC State University to close this loop by collecting, processing, and re-extruding PLA waste into new 3D printing filaments. The system, developed through collaboration between the D.H. Hill Makerspace and Hodges Lab, employs a straightforward four-step process—collection, sorting, grinding, and extrusion—thereby achieving over 90% material efficiency. Besides demonstrating technical feasibility, the project emphasizes how campus-scale circular systems can reduce waste, lower costs, and serve as educational models for sustainable manufacturing. This initiative provides a replicable framework for universities and small-scale fabrication facilities seeking to incorporate circular economy principles into their operations
Effects of Cellulose Micro and Nanocrystals on the Mechanical, Thermal, Morphological, and Structural Properties of Rigid Polyurethanes
No full textEffects of adding microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were evaluated relative to the mechanical, thermal, morphological, and structural properties of rigid polyurethanes (rPUs). The composites were prepared with the blending of polyols/isocyanates and the cellulosic fillers at 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% loadings. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that the samples had micro-scaled porosity, with cell sizes ranging from 250 to 800 nm. The fillers improved the mechanical strengths and modulus of neat rPUs due to the presence of the nano-sized cells in rPUs matrix. The addition of both fillers generally did not provide a positive effect on the thermal properties, and the weight loss generally increased while the loading rate of the fillers was increased from 0.25% to 1%. The samples had two small crystalline peaks at 18° and 19° according to the X-ray diffraction analysis. From the results, it can be said that the presence of both fillers generally improved all properties of the neat rPUs, and the effects of CNC on the properties were higher than MCC due to both lower particle size and the higher crystallinity of CNC
Enhancing Water Productivity and Flower Yield of Tuberose through Drip Fertigation and Optimized Land Configurations in Semi-Arid Region
No full textThe economic and agronomic impacts of drip fertigation techniques were evaluated on tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cultivation in a semi-arid region. Conducted over two growing seasons (2022-2024) at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, the field experiments utilized a split-split plot design with three factors: land configuration (raised bed and flatbed), irrigation schedules (50%, 75%, and 100% pan evaporation), and fertigation schedules (50%, 75%, and 100% recommended dose of fertilizers). Data were collected on flower yield, water productivity, and economic returns. The raised bed system consistently outperformed the flat bed system in water productivity and flower yield. Among the irrigation levels, the highest water productivity and flower yield were observed at 100% pan evaporation. Similarly, the highest fertigation level (100% RDF) resulted in the best outcomes in terms of both yield and economic returns. The economic analysis revealed that the raised bed configuration with higher fertigation and irrigation levels (BI3F3) was the most profitable, with the highest benefit-cost ratios. The study concludes that optimizing fertigation and irrigation practices, particularly using raised bed configurations with higher fertigation and irrigation levels, can significantly enhance tuberose cultivation’s profitability and sustainability in water-scarce regions
Comparison of Wood Veneer-Based Composite Characteristics Made of Jabon Wood (Neolamarckia cadamba) and Sengon Wood (Falcataria moluccana)
No full textThe shift of wood raw material sources from natural forests to community forests opens opportunities for West Java Province Indonesia as a source of wood raw materials because it has a large area of community forests. One type of plant grown in community forests is the jabon tree (Neolamarckia cadamba). This study will investigate whether jabon wood can be utilized as raw material for wood composite, such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL), laminated veneer board (LVB), and plywood, from the aspect of physical and mechanical characteristics, such as moisture content, density, bending strength, hardness, delamination, and formaldehyde emission. Another will find out the economic consideration of jabon compared with sengon wood. Results showed that based on the physical, mechanical, delamination, and formaldehyde emission characteristics, the tested jabon wood can be used as a raw material for wood veneer-based composite with better characteristics compared to sengon wood. However, the availability of jabon wood is lower than sengon wood and the price of jabon wood was higher than sengon wood. These factors may limit jabon utilization
Analysis and Comparison of Methods for Determining Small Piles of Wood Chips Using Laser Scanning Technology
No full textThe monitoring of forest biomass stock volumes in larger operations is typically conducted irregularly, either by tracking cargo arrivals or by using simple manual measurement methods. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of smart methods based on laser scanning technology, integrated into mobile phones and a handheld laser scanner, for measuring smaller piles of forest chips. For the experiment, a total of 50 m³ of fiberwood logs were chipped and distributed into four piles. The smart solutions selected for laser scanning of forest biomass in this study were the Stonex Geoslam X120 GO handheld laser scanner and the iPhone 14 Pro Max equipped with a LiDAR sensor. The results were influenced by the selected conversion coefficient and the exclusion of small scattered fragments of forest chips around the piles, which were not included in the final volume calculation. The smallest discrepancy identified by the smart solutions was 3 m³ (6%) of woody mass. The findings demonstrated that the smart solutions utilizing LiDAR technology offer good affordability, ease of use, and satisfactory accuracy. They are user-friendly and provide quick results
Performance of Cunninghamia lanceolata / Uncaria Composite Particleboard
No full textParticleboards were prepared with thinning wood of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir) and wood shavings of waste Uncaria sinensis branches by using melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin as the adhesive. Influences of particle mass ratio of C. lanceolata to Uncaria, adhesive loading, and target density on internal bonding strength (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), thickness swelling rate of water absorption (TS), and water absorption (WA) of the composite particleboard were investigated. Results showed that: (1) IB, MOR, MOE, 2h-TS, and 2h-WA of pure C. lanceolata particleboard met service requirements of type-P2 furniture particleboard of GB/T 4897-2015. (2) With the increase of Uncaria particles, IB of composite particleboard decreased gradually, while MOR, MOE, TS, and WA first increased and then decreased. The best comprehensive performances were achieved when the mass ratio of C. lanceolata to Uncaria was 75:25, manifested by 1.5 MPa of IB, 21.3 MPa of MOR, 2140 MPa of MOE, 2.4% of 2h-TS and 12.3% of 2h-WA. These performances basically meet the service requirements on type-P3 of the standard. (3) It can make C. lanceolata fir/Uncaria particleboard meet requirements on type-P4 heavy-load particleboard of the standard by increasing target density and adhesive loading appropriately. (4) The C. lanceolata/Uncaria composite particleboard showed higher thermostability and fire resistance
Pulp Screen Plugging Characteristics
No full textAperture plugging is a phenomenon that limits both the capacity and efficiency of pulp screens, which are critical components of the papermaking process. An understanding of how plugs are created and how they can be avoided can enhance the manufacture of paper products, providing energy savings, increased productivity, improved product quality, and higher levels of paper recycling. This work considers the creation and dispersion of plugs in a small, industrial screen. Flow resistance provides a means of assessing the presence of plugs and their evolution through creation and dispersion. A structured means of plug dispersion was formulated, from which floc strength could be inferred. These novel measurements provide insight not only into the factors that control plug creation, but into their character. Long-fiber (softwood) plugs were found to form and consolidate quickly and to achieve high strength. Their low porosity limited flow through the slot soon after creation. Short-fiber (hardwood) plugs formed more slowly, and they were more porous and weaker
Effects of Bamboo Fiber Substitution for Glass Fibers on Mechanical and Erosive Wear Properties of High-Density Polyethylene Composites
No full textTo explore the feasibility of replacing inorganic fibers with plant fibers for the fabrication of polymer composites for waterfront engineering applications, the effects of replacing glass fibers with bamboo fibers on the mechanical and erosive wear properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were investigated. Mechanical performance tests and the hydraulic abrasive erosive wear technique, which is based on a rotating jet system, were employed. The results indicated that as the mass ratio of bamboo fibers to glass fibers increases, the mechanical properties of the HDPE composites improved overall, while the erosion resistance initially decreased and then increased. The maximum increases in tensile, flexural, and impact strength, as well as breakage elongation were 16.4%, 13.8%, 34.9%, and 10.0%, respectively. Bamboo fibers, when replacing glass fibers, can form chemical bonds with the matrix, suppressing the brittle fracture characteristics observed in the tensile sections of HDPE composites. However, this substitution also reduced the erosion resistance of the HDPE composites. The wear characteristics of the eroded surfaces mainly include a brittle fracture of the matrix and fragmentation, as well as extensive exposure of the bamboo fibers
Phytochemical Extraction to Improve the Economic Benefits of Biomass Processing
No full textPhytochemicals are non-nutritive plant components having bioactive activities. Compared with synthetic chemicals, phytochemicals have numerous advantages, and they are now widely used in health foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Phytochemicals also provide a rich natural resource pool for new health food and medicine development. Because of their wide uses, phytochemicals have high economic value for their development and utilization. Phytochemicals are present in a vast number of plants, and their production has a wide range of feedstock sources. In traditional biomass processing, phytochemicals are often considered as wastes and are not recovered. In order to improve the economic benefits, the extraction of phytochemicals has now become an attractive sub-process during the biomass processing. However, the low content of phytochemicals in plants makes their extraction challenging. Efforts are needed to increase the phytochemical content in plants and develop more efficient extraction and separation processes. This editorial briefly discusses phytochemicals and their extraction to improve the economic benefits of biomass processing