BioResources (E-Journal)
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Effect of Activated Carbon Compaction on Water Filtration Efficiency
No full textWater contamination in rural Malaysian areas, mainly caused by logging activities leading to soil erosion and river pollution, presents a significant threat to water supplies. In response, a specialized activated carbon water filtering device was developed to target the absorption of organic molecules. The impact of compaction of activated carbon on water filtering efficiency was evaluated. Testing both compacted and uncompacted activated carbon filters with contaminated river water, the study utilized the Malaysia Department of Environment's (DOE) water quality index (WQI) to assess filter effectiveness. The results revealed that water filtered through compacted activated carbon was clearer and less yellowish compared to the uncompacted counterpart. Moreover, the compacted filter showed higher dissolved oxygen levels, lower ammoniacal nitrogen levels, and a lower pH, resulting in a significantly higher WQI score of 80.4 compared to 78.8 for the uncompacted filter. Further analysis via an adsorption isotherm test demonstrated the superior ability of compacted activated carbon to absorb acetic acid, as evidenced by higher lines in the Freundlich isotherm model graphs. These findings emphasize the efficacy of compacted activated carbon in water filtration, advocating for its integration into filter construction to enhance water quality in rural regions
Impact of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Treating Dry Rot in Potato Tubers
No full textPotato (Solanum tuberosum) crops have experienced a 22% reduction due to attacks from microbial pathogens and pests. Dry rot disease occurred from risks in El-Minya governorate, Egypt, where potato is the major cultivated crop. Potato cultivar ‘Cara’ samples were collected from the markets of six regions in El-Minya for isolation. They were also tested for the application of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) for disease management. The ability of Exserohilum rostratum to synthesize ZnONPs was documented via UV-visible, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Spherical shape and crystallite small size (51.0 ± 3.0 nm) were attributed to the created ZnONPs. The ZnONPs were applied in the bio-control of the causative agent (Fusarium nygamai) of dry rot disease and large economic loss of potato cv. ‘Cara’ productivity. The mycosynthesized ZnONPs by E. rostratum at 100 μg/ mL (3 mM) showed antifungal activity against F. nygamai with higher reducing value of mycelium growth diameter 2.0 ± 0.14 cm compared to Revanol 50%, traditional product with a diameter of 3.85 ± 0.10 cm. Overall, ZnONPs are an excellent agent that can be applied to repress the most common fungal disease of potato
Effect of Process Parameters on Quality of Alfalfa Block
No full textTo address the imbalance in the supply of grass resources caused by seasonality and regional factors, it is crucial to efficiently store and transport alfalfa. Exploring suitable grass feed processing techniques contributes to the stable transportation of grass blocks and long-term storage of nutritional components. The Central Composite Design response surface design was used to design experiments, with moisture content and compressive force as the test factors. Based on the experimental results, it was found that lower moisture content and a certain compressive force were beneficial for the stability, high density, and protein storage of alfalfa blocks. The microscopic examination of alfalfa particles revealed that a certain moisture content (15%) facilitates the formation of solid bridges between particles, leading to more stable alfalfa blocks. The final optimized process parameters were moisture content of 14.3% and compressive force of 34.8 kN. Under these conditions, the density of the molded alfalfa block was 1001 kg/m3, with R-CP at 96.96%, R-EE at 67.23%, and R-CF at 114.13%
Functional Requirements and Design Strategy of E-sports Chair Based on the KANO Model
No full textA design strategy was developed, based on the KANO model, for health-centric and sustainable e-sports chair products. Specifically, this study investigated the functional requirements of e-sports chairs using interviews and questionnaires to guide their subsequent design. The functional requirements of the e-sports chair were evaluated using the KANO model. In addition, a satisfaction coefficient was introduced to optimize the traditional KANO model and to obtain the functional requirement classification of the e-sports chair. The sensitivity coefficient was used to evaluate whether the e-sports chair functions attract users. The research results show that users have clear functional requirements for e-sports chairs, and there is a significant correlation between satisfaction and sensitivity. Moreover, the adjustability and air permeability of the e-sports chair greatly improves user satisfaction, and the non-difference function can simplify the process by reducing production costs. This research develops a hierarchical model of demand for e-sports chairs and categorizes the results by essential, one-dimensional, attractive, non-differentiated, and sensitivity requirements. Furthermore, the main attributes of user preferences for e-sports chairs are explored, which provides a certain theoretical basis for the subsequent design and production of e-sports chairs
Performance Evaluation of 3D-Printed ABS and Carbon Fiber-reinforced ABS Polymeric Spur Gears
No full textAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer and carbon fiber reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (CF/ABS) spur gears were 3D-printed using fusion deposition modeling (FDM) with different fillet radii of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mm. The performance of the fabricated gears was studied with the effect of fillet radius on varying load and speed conditions. The thermal properties of the gears were also investigated. The results indicated that 3D-printed CF/ABS spur gear exhibited better performance than the pure ABS. The 3D-printed CF/ABS gear with fillet radius of 0.25 mm recorded the highest wear and thermal stresses. However, the optimum performance was exhibited by the gear sample with highest fillet radius of 0.75 mm. Repeated gear tooth loading during service caused an increase in gear temperature due to the hysteresis and friction. Using optical microscopy, the tooth structures of both 3D-printed ABS and CF/ABS spur gears were analyzed before and after loading conditions to establish their failure mechanism. Evidently, various applications of the FDM 3D-printed spur gears depend on their different performances under loads and operating speeds. The methods and findings of this work can be regarded as helpful for future related work related to cellulosic reinforcing particles in a polymer matrix
Water Absorption of Commercial and Laboratory Tissue Sheets
No full textCommercial kitchen towels (basis weight 39 to 56 g/m²) made of virgin and recycled fiber, produced by Through-Air-Drying (TAD), and conventional Yankee cylinder drying (with creping) were analyzed. The properties of these commercial tissue products were compared to those of handsheets made from them. Laboratory tissue handsheets were also prepared from northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), eucalyptus, bamboo, and straw pulp. Fibers were refined with up to 5000 revolutions of a PFI mill. Commercial kitchen towels (kitchen tissue) absorbed 9 to 14 g water per 1 g of fiber, with higher absorption by virgin fibers, and when using TAD. The tensile index (dry) was 3 to 14 Nm/g. Laboratory tissue handsheets made of commercial samples absorbed less water, but the tensile index (dry) was higher in most cases. Higher beating levels (tested at NBSK, eucalyptus, bamboo, straw pulp) increased tensile index. Curl, bulk, softness, absorption capacity, and suction lift were reduced with refining. Best values for absorption capacity (almost 8 g/g), bulk (almost 5 cm³/g), and softness were observed in laboratory bamboo tissue sheets made of non-refined fibers. After refining (2000 revolutions), the tensile index of such tissue sheets made of bamboo increased from 10 to 30 Nm/g
Effect of Nanofibrillated Cellulose on Alginate and Chitosan Film Properties as Potential Barrier Coatings for Paper Food Packaging
No full textThis study aimed to test the utility of ammonium persulfate (APS) oxidised nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) as an additive for chitosan- and alginate-based biopolymer films that could eventually be used as paper coatings for food packaging applications. Sodium alginate and chitosan were used as the base for the films. Various concentrations of APS oxidised NFC ranging from 0% to 10% were used as a reinforcing agent, resulting in six combinations of either alginate-NFC or chitosan-NFC composite films. Biofilms were tested for their mechanical properties (tensile strength and strain), grease barrier properties, air permeability, water vapour permeability, and degradation in the soil. Overall, when using the ammonium persulfate oxidation pretreatment method, the best performance of the films was estimated with the addition of 2.5% NFC
Remediation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol from Aqueous Solution by Raw and Chemical Modified Date Palm Stone Biomass: Kinetics and Isotherms Studies
No full textRaw and citric acid chemically treated date palm stone agro-waste biomass (RDSB and CA-MDSB) powders were used to remove an important class of emerging industrial pollutants, i.e., 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) from aqueous solutions towards sustainable waste utilization to develop cost-effective technology for treating wastewater. The biomass characterization was performed by using different analytical techniques such as CHN elemental analysis, particle size, BET, FTIR, and SEM-EDX, TGA analysis. The FTIR spectral analysis revealed that the main chemical groups (N–C, O=C, H-O, H-C, and O–C) were involved in trapping 2,4,6-TCP. The highest adsorption was achieved with a contact time of 150 and 120 min, an initial concentration of 50-200 mg/L, and a biosorbent dosage ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 g/L RDSB and CA-MDSB, respectively. The experimental kinetic data of the adsorption process for both adsorbents (RDSB and CA-MDSB) fitted very well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir equilibrium data. The 2,4,6-TCP maximum monolayer adsorption capacities were 53.7, and 123.8 mg/g for RDSB and CA-MDSB, respectively. The present research confirms that the date palm stone biomass could be used as an effective and low-cost biosorbent for the remediation of 2,4,6-TCP from an aqueous environment
Qualitative and Quantitative Anatomical Characteristics and Radial Variation of Major Cell Components in Paulownia tomentosa Wood Grown in Korea
No full textQualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics and radial variations of the major cell components in Paulownia tomentosa wood were examined using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction to aid in wood identification and as quality indices. The vessel arrangement on the transverse surface was either ring-porous or semi-ring-porous. Most vessels had solitary pores, while some vessels had multiple radial pores. The axial parenchyma was generally confluent and partially of aliform type. Tyloses with high frequency in the vessel lumen and multiseriate rays (2 to 5 cells) were typical. The vessel diameter of earlywood and latewood was approximately 240 and 107 μm, respectively, with a range of 165 to 289 μm in earlywood and 55 to 149 μm in latewood. Ray height and fiber length were approximately 178 and 740 μm, respectively. The vessel diameter in both earlywood and latewood and the fiber length increased gradually with an increasing number of growth rings. Ray height was constant from the pith to the middle section and decreased toward the bark. The anatomical characteristics and radial variation of major components of P. tomentosa can be used as wood identification keys and quality indices
One-Pot Synthesis of 2,5-Diformylfuran from Fructose using a Bifunctional Catalyst Derived from Phosphomolybdic Acid and Chitosan
No full textThe catalytic conversion of biomass into high-value chemicals, such as furan derivatives, from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) holds significant importance. In this study, a bifunctional catalyst prepared from phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) and chitosan was developed for the one-pot synthesis of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) from fructose. This approach offered the advantage of bypassing the solvent consumption and cost associated with HMF separation and purification for DFF production. The catalytic activity of the prepared catalyst primarily originated from the loaded PMA. Under optimized reaction conditions, the catalyst achieved a DFF yield of approximately 60% after a 6-h reaction at 150 °C or a 1-h reaction at 170 °C. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited good stability and reusability. These results highlight the potential of the bifunctional catalyst for efficient and cost-effective conversion of fructose into DFF, enabling practical applications in the production of valuable chemicals from bioresources