Potential of Seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) as a Particleboard

Recently, the utilization of lignocellulosic materials to produce eco-friendly products is very promising as biodegradable reinforcing elements for composite materials like particleboards and medium density fiberboards. The growing shortage of wood supply has also led to the development of suitable alternative materials for construction. For this reason, the industry is working to develop high-efficiency green materials including the use of seaweed. This research is aims to study the potential of seaweed from Kappaphycus species as a particleboard. Several different target densities were produced according to following proportions: seaweed particles from 150 to 200 grams and UF resin from 15% to 20%. Mechanical properties including internal bonding and bending testing were tested in this study. Samples were also investigated by utilizing microscopy for surface characterization. The outcome showed that seaweed particleboard with highest amount of seaweed particle and UF resin resulted in highest MOE, MOR and internal bonding strength values with results 457.47, 1.5, and 4.73 MPa, respectively. According to Japanese Standard, Internal bonding (IB) strength values for all the samples met the IB requirements of the standards for general uses. Thus, seaweed particle has potential to be an alternative raw material in the manufacture of particleboards.

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A Comprehensive Review on Advanced Sustainable Woven Natural Fibre Polymer Composites

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13030471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 471

Author(s):

H. A. Aisyah ◽

M. T. Paridah ◽

S. M. Sapuan ◽

R. A. Ilyas ◽

A. Khalina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymer Composites ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Major Effect ◽

Natural Fibre ◽

Natural Fibres ◽

Lignocellulosic Materials ◽

Structural Composites ◽

Detailed Review ◽

Green Materials ◽

Manufacturing Parameters

Over the last decade, the progressive application of natural fibres in polymer composites has had a major effect in alleviating environmental impacts. Recently, there is a growing interest in the development of green materials in a woven form by utilising natural fibres from lignocellulosic materials for many applications such as structural, non-structural composites, household utilities, automobile parts, aerospace components, flooring, and ballistic materials. Woven materials are one of the most promising materials for substituting or hybridising with synthetic polymeric materials in the production of natural fibre polymer composites (NFPCs). These woven materials are flexible, able to be tailored to the specific needs and have better mechanical properties due to their weaving structures. Seeing that the potential advantages of woven materials in the fabrication of NFPC, this paper presents a detailed review of studies related to woven materials. A variety of factors that influence the properties of the resultant woven NFRC such as yarn characteristics, fabric properties as well as manufacturing parameters were discussed. Past and current research efforts on the development of woven NFPCs from various polymer matrices including polypropylene, polylactic acid, epoxy and polyester and the properties of the resultant composites were also compiled. Last but not least, the applications, challenges, and prospects in the field also were highlighted.

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Green composites and their contribution toward sustainability: A review

Polymers and Polymer Composites ◽

10.1177/09673911211009372 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 096739112110093

Author(s):

Edgar Vázquez-Núñez ◽

Andrea M Avecilla-Ramírez ◽

Berenice Vergara-Porras ◽

María del Rocío López-Cuellar

Keyword(s):

Natural Fiber ◽

World Market ◽

Raw Material ◽

Green Composites ◽

Green Materials ◽

Global Problems ◽

The Matrix ◽

Green Economies ◽

Green Polymer ◽

World Environment

The current world environment scenario demands new and more eco-friendly solutions to global problems that cover the demands for materials. This sector has included green polymer-based composites and natural reinforcers from origins of renewable sources, these Green Composites (GC), natural-fiber-reinforced bio-composites in which the matrix is a bio-based polymer, have shown attractive characteristics. Biodegradability is one of the most important attributes for these new “green” materials, in that this characteristic allows for their introduction into the world market as an environmental solution. The manufacturing processes for obtaining these materials have observed important improvements because each raw material exhibits different properties and characteristics and their eco-friendly character has facilitated its incorporation into diverse sectors, such as construction, automotive, packaging, and medicine, among others. At present, this segment represents an important income for some economies, especially those where these resources are available, enhancing the creation of green economies, strengthening the world’s efforts toward sustainability.

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Effect Of Equivalent Ratio (ER) On the Flow and Combustion Characteristics in A Typical Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) Cavity

Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences ◽

10.37934/arfmts.86.2.2838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 28-38

Author(s):

Arup Kumar Biswas ◽

Wasu Suksuwan ◽

Khamphe Phoungthong ◽

Makatar Wae-hayee

Keyword(s):

Mass Flow ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Gas Flow ◽

Coal Gasification ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Combustion Characteristics ◽

Raw Material ◽

Underground Coal Gasification ◽

Equivalent Ratio ◽

Rubble Pile

Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is thought to be the most favourable clean coal technology option from geological-engineering-environmental viewpoint (less polluting and high efficiency) for extracting energy from coal without digging it out or burning it on the surface. UCG process requires only injecting oxidizing agent (O2 or air with steam) as raw material, into the buried coal seam, at an effective ratio which regulates the performance of gasification. This study aims to evaluate the influence of equivalent ratio (ER) on the flow and combustion characteristics in a typical half tear-drop shape of UCG cavity which is generally formed during the UCG process. A flow modeling software, Ansys FLUENT is used to construct a 3-D model and to solve problems in the cavity. The boundary conditions are- (i) a mass-flow-inlet passing oxidizer (in this case, air) into the cavity, (ii) a fuel-inlet where the coal volatiles are originated and (iii) a pressure-outlet for flowing the product Syngas out of the cavity. A steady-state simulation has been run using k-? turbulence model. The mass flow rate of air varied according to an equivalent ratio (ER) of 0.16, 0.33, 0.49 and 0.82, while the fuel flow rate was fixed. The optimal condition of ER has been identified through observing flow and combustion characteristics, which looked apparently stable at ER 0.33. In general, the flow circulation mainly takes place around the ash-rubble pile. A high temperature zone is found at the air-releasing point of the injection pipe into the ash-rubble pile. This study could practically be useful to identify one of the vital controlling factors of gasification performance (i.e., ER impact on product gas flow characteristics) which might become a cost-effective solution in advance of commencement of any physical operation.

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Affordable and sustainable new generation of solar cells: calcium titanate (CaTiO3) - based perovskite solar cells

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20186701010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 ◽

pp. 01010

Author(s):

Alfonsina Abat Amelenan Torimtubun ◽

Anniza Cornelia Augusty ◽

Eka Maulana ◽

Lusi Ernawati

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Power Efficiency ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Heating Temperature ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Perovskite Solar Cells ◽

Calcium Titanate ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Raw Material ◽

Lead Free

Indonesia is located along the equator lines with the high intensity of solar radiation averaging about 4.5 kWh of electrical energy/day. This potential leads to the selfsustaining energy possibility fulfilling the electricity needs. Due to their unique electronic structures and high-cost merit over the existing commercial PV technologies, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as the next-generation photovoltaic candidate. Their highest power efficiency can be achieved of up to 22.1% in the last 5-6 years. However, this high efficiency came from CH3NH3PbI3 materials which contain lead, a toxic material. Herein calcium titanate (CT) as a lead-free perovskite material were synthesized through sintering of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and titanium oxide (TiO2) by the sol-gel method. CT powders were characterized by SEM, XRF, FTIR and XRD then applied it onto the mesoporous heterojunction PSCs, with a device architecture ITO/TiO2/CaTiO3/C/ITO. By manipulating the raw material stoichiometry and heating temperature in the synthesis of CaTiO3, the device shows the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.12%, shortcircuit current density (JSC) of 0.027 mA cm-2, open circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.212 V and fill factor (FF) of 53.90%. This sample can be an alternative way to create lead-free, largescale, and low-cost perovskite solar cells.

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Effect of wood acidity and catalyst on UF resin gel time

Holzforschung ◽

10.1515/hf.2004.061 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 408-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

C. Xing ◽

S.Y. Zhang ◽

J. Deng

Keyword(s):

Ph Value ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Urea Formaldehyde ◽

Acid Catalyst ◽

Buffering Capacity ◽

Raw Material ◽

Gel Time ◽

Uf Resin ◽

Effects Of Ph ◽

Fiber Materials

Abstract Knowledge of pH and buffering capacity of raw fiber materials is important for understanding the effects of raw material on the curing rate of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin, used for panel manufacturing, especially with some less-desirable wood materials such as bark, top, and commercial thinnings. The effects of pH and buffering capacity as well as catalyst content on the gel time of UF resin were investigated. The results obtained from this study indicate that bark has a lower pH value as well as higher acid and alkaline buffering capacities than wood of the same species due to their extractives. The pH values of the raw fiber materials studied decrease with increased absolute and relative acid buffering capacity due to the increased absolute acidity mass in the solution. At lower levels of added catalyst, the effect of raw material pH on UF resin gel time is significant, while it is insignificant at higher catalyst contents. This may be due to the acidity of wood, which is the main acid catalyst source of the mixture at lower levels of added catalyst, while at higher levels, catalyst is the main source. With higher catalyst contents, all studied raw materials mixed with UF resin result in a longer gel time than does UF resin alone.

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Removal of phenol from steel wastewater by combined electrocoagulation with photo-Fenton

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2018.376 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 1260-1267 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mohammad Malakootian ◽

Mohammad Reza Heidari

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Removal Efficiency ◽

Current Density ◽

Steel Industry ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Optimal Conditions ◽

Suitable Alternative ◽

Steel Mills ◽

Real Wastewater

Abstract Phenol and its derivatives are available in various industries such as refineries, coking plants, steel mills, drugs, pesticides, paints, plastics, explosives and herbicides industries. This substance is carcinogenic and highly toxic to humans. The purpose of the study was to investigate the removal of phenol from wastewater of the steel industry using the electrocoagulation–photo-Fenton (EC-PF) process. Phenol and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency were investigated using the parameters pH, Fe2+/H2O2, reaction time and current density. The highest removal efficiency rates of phenol and COD were 100 and 98%, respectively, for real wastewater under optimal conditions of pH = 4, current density = 1.5 mA/cm2, Fe2+/H2O2 = 1.5 and reaction time of 25 min. Combination of the two effective methods for the removal of phenol and COD, photocatalytic electrocoagulation photo-Fenton process is a suitable alternative for the removal of organic pollutants in industry wastewater because of the low consumption of chemicals, absence of sludge and other side products, and its high efficiency.

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Red Mud-Based Polyaluminum Ferric Chloride Flocculant: Preparation, Characterization and Flocculation Performance

10.21203/rs.3.rs-159842/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yong Cheng ◽

Longjun Xu ◽

Chenglun Liu ◽

Zao Jiang ◽

Qiyuan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Red Mud ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Iron Chloride ◽

Raw Material ◽

Molar Ratio ◽

Polymerization Temperature ◽

Solution Ph

Abstract In this work, red mud was used as raw material to extract Al and Fe with hydrochloric acid. The high-efficiency polyaluminum iron chloride (PAFC) flocculant was prepared via adjusting the pH of the leaching solution, the molar ratio of aluminum and iron, and the polymerization temperature. The effect of synthesis and flocculation conditions on the flocculation performance of aged landfill leachate was investigated. The results confirmed that the PAFC prepared at the polymerization pH of 2.5, the Al/Fe molar ratio of 8, and the polymerization temperature of 70 °C had the optimum flocculation effect. The flocculation consequences of PAFC and commercial polyaluminum iron chloride flocculant (CPAFC) under different flocculation conditions were compared. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), UV254, chroma and settlement height of PAFC at flocculant concentration of 60 g/L and solution pH of 6 were 72.2%, 79.2%, 82.9% and 9.5 cm (within 90 min), respectively. PAFC has excellent flocculation performance and can be used as a simple, potentially low-cost wastewater treatment agent in industrial applications.

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Nori Preference Level based on the Condition of the Raw Material Eucheuma cottonii Seaweed

Asian Food Science Journal ◽

10.9734/afsj/2019/v11i430070 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dinda Widu Ramasari ◽

Evi Liviawaty ◽

Atikah Nurhayati ◽

Rusky Intan Pratama ◽

Eddy Afrianto

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Kappaphycus Alvarezii ◽

Raw Material ◽

Crude Fiber ◽

Test Results ◽

Crude Fiber Content ◽

Physical Tests ◽

Bayes Test ◽

Eucheuma Cottonii

Aims: To determine the level of preference of panelists for Nori based on the condition of raw materials of dry and semi-dried Kappaphycus alvarezii (formerly Eucheuma cottonii) seaweed. Study Design: The research was conducted experimentally. Place and Duration of Study: Organoleptic tests were carried out in the Laboratory of Fisheries Product Processing Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, University of Padjadjaran. Physical tests and chemical tests conducted at the Laboratory of Research and Biological Resources and Biotechnology Research Institute at the Society (LPPM), IPB, between March 2019 and April 2019. Methodology: The research was conducted experimentally consisted of 3 treatments with 20 semi-trained panelists as replication from Fisheries students of Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty, University of Padjadjaran who had experienced the organoleptic assessment. Hedonic tests were to determine the level of panelists preference for the products which included appearance, aroma, texture, and flavor, the results were statistically analyzed using Friedman Test and Bayes Test. Physical tests (thickness and hardness) and chemical tests (water content and crude fiber content) were carried out on the most preferred treatment product and analyzed descriptively. Results: The organoleptic test results of Nori from Kappaphycus alvarezii (formerly Eucheuma cottonii) seaweed with dry raw material conditions had the highest average value on each characteristic compared to other treatments, appearance of 7.70, aroma of 7.00, texture of 7.50, and flavor of 7.90. The Bayes test results on the treatment of Nori from Kappaphycus alvarezii (formerly Eucheuma cottonii) seaweed with dry raw materials conditions having the highest alternative which was 8.54 with the most influential taste criteria for the assessment. The thickness of the Nori was 0.108 mm, the hardness was 1916.16 gf, water content of Nori was 17.23% and crude fiber content was 10.10%. Conclusion: The treatment of Nori with raw materials of dry conditions was the most preferred by panelists.

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Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Monofluoroakylation of Alkyl Tosylate with Bromofluoromethane to Access Primary Alkyl Fluoride

Chemical Communications ◽

10.1039/d1cc02837e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ru Cui ◽

Jie Sheng ◽

Bing-Bing Wu ◽

Duo-Duo Hu ◽

Hong-Qian Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Group ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Raw Material ◽

Mild Conditions

A nickel-catalysed direct terminal monofluormethlyation between alkyl tosylates and a low-cost, industrial raw material bromofluoromethane has been developed. This transformation has demonstrated high efficiency, mild conditions, and good functional-group compatibility....

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Improving Thermal Conductivity Coefficient in Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL) Using Sepiolite

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10040599 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 599 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hamid R. Taghiyari ◽

Abolfazl Soltani ◽

Ayoub Esmailpour ◽

Vahid Hassani ◽

Hamed Gholipour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Conductivity ◽

Core Temperature ◽

Thermal Conductivity Coefficient ◽

Urea Formaldehyde ◽

Wood Products ◽

Raw Material ◽

Formaldehyde Resin ◽

The Core ◽

Uf Resin ◽

Hardness Values

An issue in engineered wood products, like oriented strand lumber (OSL), is the low thermal conductivity coefficient of raw material, preventing the fast transfer of heat into the core of composite mats. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of sepiolite at nanoscale with aspect ratio of 1:15, in mixture with urea-formaldehyde resin (UF), and its effect on thermal conductivity coefficient of the final panel. Sepiolite was mixed with UF resin for 20 min prior to being sprayed onto wood strips in a rotary drum. Ten percent of sepiolite was mixed with the resin, based on the dry weight of UF resin. OSL panels with two resin contents, namely 8% and 10%, were manufactured. Temperature was measured at the core section of the mat at 5-second intervals, using a digital thermometer. The thermal conductivity coefficient of OSL specimens was calculated based on Fourier’s Law for heat conduction. With regard to the fact that an improved thermal conductivity would ultimately be translated into a more effective polymerization of the resin, hardness of the panel was measured, at different depths of penetration of the Janka ball, to find out how the improved conductivity affected the hardness of the produced composite panels. The measurement of core temperature in OSL panels revealed that sepiolite-treated panels with 10% resin content had a higher core temperature in comparison to the ones containing 8% resin. Furthermore, it was revealed that the addition of sepiolite increased thermal conductivity in OSL panels made with 8% and 10% resin contents, by 36% and 40%, respectively. The addition of sepiolite significantly increased hardness values in all penetration depths. Hardness increased as sepiolite content increased. Considering the fact that the amount of sepiolite content was very low, and therefore it could not physically impact hardness increase, the significant increase in hardness values was attributed to the improvement in the thermal conductivity of panels and subsequent, more complete, curing of resin.

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