Search Results (38)

In this study, a magnet-integrated fabric phase sorptive extraction (MI-FPSE) protocol was developed in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography—diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) for the simultaneous determination of five phenylurea pesticides (i.e., chlorbromuron, diuron, linuron, metoxuron, monuron) in environmental water samples. To produce the MI-FPSE device, two individual sol-gel coated carbowax 20 M (CW 20 M) cellulose membranes were fabricated and stitched to each other, while a magnetic rod was inserted between them to give the resulting device the ability to spin and serve as a stand-alone microextraction platform. The adsorption and desorption step of the MI-FPSE protocol was optimized to achieve high extraction efficiency and the MI-FPSE-HPLC-DAD method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection (LODs) were found to be 0.3 μg L⁻¹. The relative recoveries were 85.2–110.0% for the intra-day and 87.7–103.2% for the inter-day study. The relative standard deviations were better than 13% in all cases. The green character and the practicality of the developed procedure were assessed using ComplexGAPI and Blue Analytical Grade Index metric tools, showing good method performance. Finally, the developed method was successfully used for the analysis of tap, river, and lake water samples. Full article

Herein, all components of corncob residues were acetylated to synthesize an acetone-soluble resin material. Moreover, titanium oxysulfate (TiOSO₄), a low-cost intermediate for the industrial production of TiO₂, was first used as an acetylation reagent. Through optimizing reagent dosages and reaction times, above 90% of hydroxyl groups in the corncob residue can be substituted by acetyl groups. During the acetylation reaction, TiOSO₄ was transformed into TiO₂ and uniformly distributed within the acetylated corncob residue. The resulting product, owing to its solubility in acetone, can be employed to fabricate a composite film with excellent mechanical properties, achieving an increase of 85% in tensile strength and 90% in strain rate compared to commercial cellulose acetate film. By this preparation technique, the industrial-grade corncob residue as raw material can be converted to acetylated composite films. Further analysis indicates that the coexistence of acetylated lignin and TiO₂ plays a pivotal role in enhancing the mechanical properties of acetylated corncob residue composite film. Additionally, this material exhibits substantial degradation within 28 days under natural environmental conditions, whereas commercial cellulose acetate shows no significant changes even after 60 days. The present achievements are a significant breakthrough in the high-value technologies for the conversion of corncob residues. Full article

Low-grade tea, often underutilized due to its coarse texture and limited bioavailability, represents a significant resource waste. This study systematically investigated the synergistic effects of steam explosion (SE) and superfine grinding on enhancing the structural deconstruction, powder property, instant solubility, and diffusivity of low-grade. SE treatment induced critical physicochemical modifications, including hemicellulose degradation, lignin recondensation, and cellulose crystalline reorganization, which significantly weakened the lignocellulosic matrix. Subsequent superfine grinding via ball milling achieved ultrafine particles, with median diameter D₅₀ = 10.4 ± 0.17 μm, and almost completely destroyed the cell wall by 99.9%. Extraction kinetics revealed that SE-ball milling synergistically accelerated the diffusion behavior of bioactive compounds, reducing equilibrium time by 2~4 times and increasing maximum yields of polysaccharides, polyphenols, caffeine, and water-soluble solids by 9~25% compared to untreated samples. Homogenization combined with 0.08 mg/mL CMC-Na further improved the suspension stability of tea powder and reduced its centrifugal sedimentation to 9.85%. These findings demonstrate a scalable strategy to transform low-grade tea into high-value ingredients with enhanced accessibility and solubility of bioactive compounds, offering promising applications in instant beverages, fortified foods, and nutraceuticals. Full article

This study investigates the rheological behavior of cellulose microfiber suspensions derived from kahili ginger stems (Hedychium gardnerianum), an invasive species, in two adhesive matrices: a commercial water-based adhesive (Coplaseal^®) and a casein-based adhesive made from non-food-grade milk, referred to as K and S samples, respectively. Rheological analyses were performed using oscillatory and rotational shear tests conducted at 25 °C, 50 °C, and 75 °C to assess the materials’ viscoelastic properties more comprehensively. Oscillatory tests across a frequency range of 1–100 rad/s assessed the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″), while rotational shear tests evaluated apparent viscosity and shear stress across shear rates from 0.1 to 1000 s⁻¹. Fiber-free samples consistently showed lower moduli than fiber-containing samples at all frequencies. The incorporation of fibers increased the dynamic moduli in both K and S samples, with a quasi-plateau observed at lower frequencies, suggesting solid-like behavior. This trend was consistent in all tested temperatures. As frequencies increased, the fiber network was disrupted, transitioning the samples to fluid-like behavior, with a marked increase in G′ and G″. This transition was more pronounced in K samples, especially above 10 rad/s at 25 °C and 50 °C, but less evident at 75 °C. This shift from solid-like to fluid-like behavior reflects the transition from percolation effects at low frequencies to matrix-dominated responses at high frequencies. In contrast, S samples displayed a wider frequency range for the quasi-plateau, with less pronounced moduli changes at higher frequencies. At 75 °C, the moduli of fiber-containing and fiber-free S samples nearly converged at higher frequencies, indicating similar effects of the fiber and matrix components. Both fiber-reinforced and non-reinforced suspensions exhibited pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) behavior. Fiber-containing samples exhibited higher initial viscosity, with K samples displaying greater differences between fiber-reinforced and non-reinforced systems compared to S samples, where the gap was narrower. Interestingly, S samples exhibited overall higher viscosity than K samples, implying a reduced influence of fibers on the viscosity in the S matrix. This preliminary study highlights the complex interactions between cellulosic fiber networks, adhesive matrices, and rheological conditions. The findings provide a foundation for optimizing the development of sustainable biocomposites, particularly in applications requiring precise tuning of rheological properties. Full article

Ink-jet-printed silk, a premium textile material, was achieved by utilizing a bio-based gardenia blue dye. However, the sharpness of the printing pattern is difficult to control due to the limited water-retention capacity of silk. To address this issue, three polysaccharide derivatives, namely, sodium alginate (SA), low-viscosity hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC-I), and high-viscosity hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC-II), were employed as thickeners to modify the silk by the dipping–padding method. Firstly, the preparation of the gardenia blue ink and the rheology assessment of the thickener solution were conducted. Furthermore, the impacts of different thickeners on the micro-morphology, element composition, and hydrophilicity of the silk, along with the wetting behavior of the ink on the silk, were analyzed comparatively in order to identify an appropriate thickener for preserving pattern outlines. Lastly, the color features, color fastness, and wearing characteristics of the printed silk were discussed to evaluate the overall printing quality. Research results showed that the optimized ink formulation, comprising 12% gardenia blue, 21% alcohols, and 5.5% surfactant, met the requirements for ink-jet printing (with a viscosity of 4.48 mPa·s, a surface tension of 34.12 mN/m, and a particle size of 153 nm). The HPMC-II solution exhibited prominent shear-thinning behavior, high elasticity, and thixotropy, facilitating the achievement of an even modification effect. The treatment of the silk with HPMC-II resulted in the most notable decrease in hydrophilicity. This can be attributed to the presence of filled gaps and a dense film on the fibers’ surface after the HPMC-II treatment, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the HPMC-II treatment introduced the highest content of hydrophobic groups on the fiber surface. The reduced hydrophilicity inhibited the excessive diffusion and penetration of gardenia blue ink, contributing to a distinct printing image and enhanced apparent color depth. Moreover, the printed silk demonstrated qualified color fastness to rubbing and soaping (exceeding grade four), a soft handle feeling, an ignorable strength loss (below 5%), and a favorable air/moisture penetrability. In general, the surface modification with the HPMC-II treatment has been proven as an effective strategy for upgrading the image quality of bio-based dye-printed silk. Full article

Cellulosic ethanol is the key technology to alleviate the pressure of energy supply and climate change. However, the ethanol production process, which is close to industrial production and has a high saccharification rate and ethanol yield, still needs to be developed. This study demonstrates the effective conversion of poplar wood waste into fuel-grade ethanol. By employing a two-step pretreatment using sodium chlorite (SC)-dilute sulfuric acid (DSA), the raw material achieved a sugar conversion rate exceeding 85% of the theoretical value. Under optimized conditions, brewing yeast co-utilizing C6/C5 enabled a yield of 35 g/L ethanol from 10% solid loading delignified poplar hydrolysate. We increased the solid loading to enhance the final ethanol concentration and optimized both the hydrolysis and fermentation stages. With 20% solid loading delignified poplar hydrolysate, the final ethanol concentration reached 60 g/L, a 71.4% increase from the 10% solid loading. Our work incorporates the pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation stages to establish a simple, crude poplar waste fuel ethanol process, expanding the range of feedstocks for second-generation fuel ethanol production. Full article

A functionally graded membrane (FGM) with a special spiral-structured cellulose acetate (CA) membrane was prepared by electrospinning under different collection distances. The membrane morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FESEM images revealed that the high concentration shows the formation of fibers with an irregular diameter, with a large diameter distribution range. The fiber collected at a short distance of 10 cm experiences the strong electrostatic force, resulting in the short flight time for the polymer jet. This causes the bending instability of the polymer jet forming the comparatively thick fiber diameters, whereas the fiber collected at 15 cm shows the presence of a smooth, homogeneous diameter. Furthermore, the water flux of the membrane was determined using 50 mL of Amicon stirred cells. The fiber collected at different distances showed diameter variation, which is used to design a special spiral structure on the membrane by auto-moving the collector between the fixed distances of 10–20 cm. This technique will reveal a new approach for the fabrication of a special spiral structure on the nanofibrous membrane for different biomedical applications from different polymers. Meanwhile, the fabricated FGM with a special spiral-structure CA membrane demonstrates high water permeation flux. Full article

This study explores the potential of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) leaves (SCLs), a significant agricultural waste, for the sustainable production of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) utilizing an innovative approach of carboxymethylation with monochloroacetic acid and varying sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations (ranging from 20 to 60 g/100 mL). The optimal carboxymethylation condition was identified as 40 g/100 mL NaOH, which yielded the highest degree of substitution (DS = 0.86). Furthermore, a higher ash content in the obtained CMC indicated significant carboxymethyl substitution within the structure. The chemical structure of cellulose and the resulting polymers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR spectrum exhibited characteristic peaks of carboxymethyl groups and their salts at wavenumbers of 1588–1591 cm⁻¹ and 1413–1415 cm⁻¹, respectively. The analyses from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed detailed insights into the crystallinity and morphology of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The levels of heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, in the purified CMC were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and were found to be within the recommended WHO/FAO limits, except for lead, which exceeded permissible levels. The prepared CMC demonstrated high purity at 99.34%, surpassing the 98.00% purity requirement for commercial-grade CMC. This product exhibits strong potential for diverse industrial applications, including paper coating, textile sizing and printing, ceramic glazing, and various uses in the oil industry. Full article

Cellulose-based hierarchical porous beads exhibit significant application potential in adsorption and separation systems due to their degradation and biocompatibility. However, the current fabrications of cellulose beads show poor mechanical properties and a difficult-to-regulate hierarchical porous structure, reducing their lifespan of use and limiting their application in fine separation. Here, we reported the facile creep–drop method to prepare cellulose beads that enabled systemic regulation of the macro-size, micropore structures, and mechanical properties by optimizing injection nozzle diameter, the composition of the coagulation bath, the temperature of the coagulation bath, and cellulose concentration. Notably, during the molding process, the H₂SO₄-Na₂SO₄ composite solidification bath endowed cellulose beads with a dense shell layer and a loose core layer, which achieved the integration of mechanical properties and high porosity. The cellulose beads exhibited high porosity (93.38–96.18%) and high sphericity (86.78–94.44%) by modulating the shell thickness of the cellulose beads. In particular, the cellulose beads exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a high compressive strength of 544.24 kPa at a 5% cellulose concentration. It is expected that these cellulose beads with tunable microstructures can realize their potential for applications in the fields of wastewater treatment, chemical engineering, bioengineering, medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Full article

Due to its long and continuous cellulose fibers, flax offers excellent specific tensile strength and stiffness relative to other natural fibers such sisal or jute, and it is widely used as fiber reinforcement in composites with relevance in industries such as automotive, sports and maritime environments. However, the use of natural fibers poses additional challenges relative to synthetic fibers in ensuring the functional lifetime of composites; in particular, water resistance and resistance against UV conditions should be improved for outdoor use. Therefore, a protective coating that offers high resistance against environmental conditions and mechanical damage can be applied to avoid direct surface exposure of natural fibers. The linseed oil or wax coatings increase the hydrophobic surface properties and limit water ingress, but they have drawbacks such as extended curing periods via oxidative crosslinking and weak mechanical performance. In seeking alternatives for natural fiber composites, the potential of bio-based crosslinked coatings to enhance mechanical robustness, surface protection and durability was explored by screening various coating grades, including bio-based epoxy resin, diluents and crosslinkers. The epoxy coatings with a bio-based phenalkamine crosslinker offer higher hardness and scratch resistance, and the water resistance was improved in the presence of an amine crosslinker with long alkyl chains. In parallel, the mechanical abrasion resistance of the crosslinked coatings significantly increased in relation to the intrinsic mechanical properties and crosslinking density of the coatings. The processing of the epoxy coatings was further enhanced by adding a bio-based trifunctional diluent with low viscosity while providing limited shrinkage and good compatibility with the composite substrate. Moreover, the UV resistance was better for epoxy coatings with a bio-based diluent, likely via migration effects and the formation of a protective layer at the outer surface. Full article

Forest wood biomass can be used as a renewable resource for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. In this study, the methanol, methanol/ethanol, and ethanol/benzene solvent extracts of Platanus orientalis L. bark were analyzed using FTIR, ^IH NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D-HSQC NMR, GC-MS, and TOF-LC-MS. The results revealed that the bark of Planus orientalis contained a wide variety of chemical compounds, such as 30-triacontanol, 1-Hexanol, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, 2-ethyl-, γ-Sitosterol, and 3,4,5-tri methoxy-Phenol. In addition, the fast pyrolysis of P. orientalis L. bark (POL-B) with nano-catalysts (Co₃O₄, Fe₂O₃, and Co₃O₄/Fe₂O₃) was investigated using pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with an FTIR spectrophotometer (TG-FTIR). The TG results revealed that the nano-catalysts significantly affected the pyrolysis of P. orientalis bark. The nano-Fe₂O₃ catalyst was shown to increase acid and ketone compound production during the catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose. According to the Py-GC-MS results, the pyrolytic products contained several value-added chemicals and high-quality bio-oil. The nano-catalysts promoted the production of aromatics, phenols, ketones, olefins, furans and alkane compounds. These natural-product active molecules and bio-oil, as high-grade raw materials, could be used in many industrial and agricultural fields for the production of wetting agents, stabilizers, plasticizers and resins. In addition, a number of active molecules could be used as drugs and biomedical active ingredients for anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory purposes. Full article

Cellulose derivatives, as edible coating for fruits and vegetables, have been broadly applied due to their availability, stability, solubility, safety, and low price. Therefore, this study was conducted to (1) extract cellulose from the banana plant rachis, (2) convert it into carboxymethyl (CMC), and (3) use the produced CMC as an edible coating to retard senescence and prolong the storage life of strawberry fruit. Preparation of CMC was accomplished by an etherification process, utilizing sodium hydroxide and monochloroacetic acid (MCA), with ethanol as a supporting medium. Characterization of CMC was done by analyzing the spectra of FTIR, degree of substitution (DS), ash content, CMC yield, water and oil holding capacity, in addition to physical characteristics. A storage study with CMC as an edible coating was conducted to investigate its impact on the shelf life of stored strawberry fruits. High purity food-grade CMC was successfully produced. CMC showed a yield of 156.25% with a DS of 0.78, a water holding capacity of 11.24 g/g, and an oil holding capacity of 1.60 g/g. The resulted CMC was well suited for edible coating preparation and was used effectively to prolong the shelf life of stored strawberry fruits at 22 °C to 6 days and to 16 days for that stored at 4 °C. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), decay percentage, pH, anthocyanin content, ascorbic acid content, firmness, and sensory characteristics of CMC coated strawberry fruit stored at 4 °C were better than those stored at 22 °C. Thus, CMC edible coating prepared from banana rachis could be recommended as a potential postharvest treatment to delay postharvest senescence and maintain the quality of ambient and cold stored fruits. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate the deformation behavior of non-spherical particles during high-load compaction using the multi-contact discrete element method (MC-DEM). To account for non-spherical particles, the bonded multi-sphere method (BMS), which incorporates intragranular bonds between particles, and the conventional multi-sphere (CMS), where overlaps between particles are allowed to form a rigid body, were used. Several test cases were performed to justify the conclusions of this study. The bonded multi-sphere method was first employed to study the compression of a single rubber sphere. This method’s ability to naturally handle large elastic deformations is demonstrated by its agreement with experimental data. This result was validated further through detailed finite element simulations (multiple particle finite element method (MPFEM)). Furthermore, the conventional multi-sphere (CMS) approach, in which overlaps between particles are allowed to form a rigid body, was used for the same objective, and revealed the limitations of this method in successfully capturing the compression behavior of a single rubber sphere. Finally, the uniaxial compaction of a microcrystalline cellulose-grade material, Avicel^® PH 200 (FMC BioPolymer, Philadelphia, PA, USA), subjected to high confining conditions was studied using the BMS method. A series of simulation results was obtained with realistic non-spherical particles and compared with the experimental data. For a system composed of non-spherical particles, the multi-contact DEM showed very good agreement with experimental data. Full article

Increasingly restricted availability and environmental impact of mineral oils have boosted the interest in sustainable lubrication. In this study, the thickening properties of sodium carboxymethyl celluloses (CMCs) were investigated in order to assess their potential as viscosity modifiers in aqueous gear and bearing fluids. The pressure, temperature and shear dependence of viscosity was studied at different concentrations and molecular weights $M_W$. The tribological properties were investigated at different viscosity grades in both sliding and rolling contact, and compared to rapeseed oil and polyethylene glycol 400. The viscosity of the CMC solutions was adjustable to all application-relevant viscosity grades. Viscosity indices were similar or higher compared to the reference fluids and mineral oil. Temporary and permanent viscosity losses increased with $M_W$. Permanent viscosity loss was highest for high $M_W$ derivatives, up to 70%. The pressure-viscosity coefficients $\alpha$ were low and showed a high dependency on shear and concentration. In rolling contact, low $M_W$ CMC showed up to 35% lower friction values compared to high $M_W$, whereas no improvement of lubricating properties was observed in sliding contact. The results suggest that low $M_W$ CMC has great potential as bio-based thickener in aqueous lubrication. Full article

With natural texture and high performance, bamboo scrimber is one of the artificial lignocellulosic composites widely used in construction, furniture and other structural applications. However, it is vulnerable to the actions of water, ultraviolet radiation and fungus, which affect its durability, especially in the open. Here, bamboo was treated with superheated steam in an attempt to improve the durability of bamboo scrimbers. The chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional stability, aging resistance, decay resistance and anti-mildew properties were investigated at different temperatures (160~200 °C). After superheated steam treatment, the relative contents of holocellulose and α-cellulose in bamboo decreased. The bending strength and short-beam shearing strength slightly decreased as the temperature was raised while the modulus was essentially retained. The aging resistance in terms of thickness swelling rate (≤9.38%) was substantially improved. The decay resistance reached to the level of Grade I and can be dramatically enhanced by elevating temperature. The anti-mildew properties were also improved. To take together, superheated steam treatment remarkably improves the resistance of bamboo scrimbers to water, ultraviolet radiation, rot fungi and mildew with some concomitant reduction in mechanical properties. The results will permit outdoor construction using bamboo scrimbers more resistant to environmental damage. Full article