All-lignocellulosic fiberboards from giant reed (Arundo donax L.): Effect of steam explosion pre-treatment on physical and mechanical properties

Single-layer experimental particleboards were made from various sizes of Arundo donax particles bonded with urea formaldehyde resin. The experimental panels were tested for their mechanical strength including modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), screw holding strength (SH), and physical properties (density, moisture content, thickness swelling (TS), and water absorption (WA)) according to the procedures defined by European Union (EN) Standards. The overall results showed that most panels exceeded the EN Standards for MOE, MOR, and IB. The mechanical properties of the particleboard were enhanced as the density increased. Particle size was found to have a profound effect on the board properties.

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Potassium Hydroxyde Pre-Treatment Enhances Methane Yield from Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.)

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030630 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 630

Author(s):

Ciro Vasmara ◽

Stefano Cianchetta ◽

Rosa Marchetti ◽

Enrico Ceotto ◽

Stefania Galletti

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Liquid Fraction ◽

Arundo Donax ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Ch4 Production ◽

Daily Rate ◽

Ch4 Concentration ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

Arundo Donax L

The biogas production through the anaerobic digestion (AD) of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) biomass has received increasing attention. However, due to the presence of lignin, a low CH4 yield can be obtained. Aiming to improve the CH4 yield from giant reed biomass, the effectiveness of a thermo-chemical pre-treatment based on KOH was evaluated in this paper. The usefulness of a washing step before the AD was also assessed. The pre-treatment led to a specific CH4 yield up to 232 mL CH4 g−1 VS which was 21% higher than that from untreated biomass; the maximum daily rate of production was improved by 42%, AD duration was reduced by 10%, and CH4 concentration in the biogas was increased by 23%. On the contrary, the washing step did not improve the AD process. Besides, washing away the liquid fraction led to biomass losses, reducing the overall CH4 production. The use of a KOH-based pre-treatment appears as a good option for enhancing the AD of giant reed, also presenting potential environmental and agronomical benefits, like the avoidance of salty wastewater production and the likely improvement of the digestate quality, due to its enriched K content.

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Shoot cuttings propagation of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in water and moist soil: The path forward?

Biomass and Bioenergy ◽

10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.06.002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 34 (11) ◽

pp. 1614-1623 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Enrico Ceotto ◽

Mario Di Candilo

Keyword(s):

Arundo Donax ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Moist Soil ◽

Arundo Donax L

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Economic and energy analysis of different systems for giant reed ( Arundo donax L.) harvesting in Italy and Spain

Industrial Crops and Products ◽

10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.01.036 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 84 ◽

pp. 176-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Luigi Pari ◽

Maria Dolores Curt ◽

Javier Sánchez ◽

Enrico Santangelo

Keyword(s):

Energy Analysis ◽

Arundo Donax ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Arundo Donax L

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Shooting of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) stem cuttings in cold greenhouse

International Journal of Plant Biology ◽

10.4081/pb.2016.6294 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Piergiorgio Gherbin ◽

Simone Milan ◽

Giuseppe Mercurio ◽

Antonio Scopa

Keyword(s):

Arundo Donax ◽

Stem Cutting ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Stem Cuttings ◽

Mother Plants ◽

Propagation Methods ◽

One Year ◽

Arundo Donax L

The increasing interest in<em> Arundo donax,</em> a perennial lignocellulosic species only reproducing by propagation, requires the setup of cheap, simple and reliable techniques. Considering these targets, stem cutting offers considerable advantages. The present investigation aimed to compare: i) plants obtained by different propagation methods (by rhizome and micropropagation mother plants); ii) plants obtained by stem cuttings from basal, central and apical parts of the stem; iii) different planting periods (spring, summer, autumn). The obtained results showed that the number of new shoots from stem buds was: i) higher in the spring and lower in the summer planting period; ii) higher from cuttings obtained by micropropagated than rhizome mother plants, both in spring and summer plantings; iii) decreasing passing from the basal to the apical stem portion; iv) partly unexpressed in the autumn planting period; v) lower from one-year stem cuttings as compared to two-year stem cuttings.

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Agronomic and physiological response of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to soil salinity

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2018.995 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ida Di Mola ◽

Gianpiero Guida ◽

Carmela Mistretta ◽

Pasquale Giorio ◽

Rossella Albrizio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Salinity ◽

Relative Yield ◽

Metal Structure ◽

Arundo Donax ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Psii Photochemistry ◽

Salinity Increase ◽

Four Levels ◽

Arundo Donax L

The soil salinity increase in the Mediterranean basin is one of the consequences of the climate change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to salinity, in conditions of higher temperatures, in order to hypothesise the future use of giant reed under these conditions. The trial was carried out in pots under a permanent metal structure, open on the sides and with a clear PE on the top. Four levels of soil salinity in the range 3.3-15.5 dS m–1 were imposed. The stem number of the most stressed treatment was about 45% lower than the control and also the stem height was lower than in all other treatments. The green and yellow leaf number decreased as the soil salinity increased, and their sum was significantly lower in the two most stressed treatments. Osmotic potential of the leaf sap was not affected by salinity. Leaf water potential and stomatal conduc- conductance in the saline treatments were lower than in the control. tance Assimilation rate showed similar pattern of stomatal conductance. Intrinsic WUE remained almost stable until July and increased during August under the most stressful conditions. PSII photochemistry was not affected by soil salinity. Biomass yield was not different from the control until to soil ECe 12.0 dS m–1: only the most stressed treatment (15.5 dS m–1) caused yield losses (50%). Tolerance threshold to salinity was 11.2 dS m–1 and the relative yield losses were 11.6% per dS m–1.

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