Self-Assembled Corn-Husk-Shaped Fullerene Crystals as Excellent Acid Vapor Sensors

Low-molecular-weight acid vapors cause aging and destruction in material processing. In this paper, facile fabrication of novel corn-husk-shaped fullerene C60 crystals (CHFCs) through the dynamic liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method is reported. The CHFCs were grown at the liquid–liquid interface between isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and a saturated solution of C60 in mesitylene under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The average length, outer diameter, and inner diameter of CHFCs were ca. 2.88 μm, 672 nm, and 473 nm, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the CHFCs exhibit a mixed face-centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal-close pack (hcp) crystal phases with lattice parameters a = 1.425 nm, V = 2.899 nm3 for fcc phase and a = 2.182 nm, c = 0.936 nm, a/c ratio = 2.33, and V = 3.859 nm3 for hcp phase. The CHFCs possess mesoporous structure as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen sorption analysis. The specific surface area and the pore volume were ca. 57.3 m2 g−1 and 0.149 cm3 g−1, respectively, are higher than the nonporous pristine fullerene C60. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensing results show the excellent sensing performance CHFCs sensitive to acetic acid vapors due to the enhanced diffusion via mesoporous architecture and hollow structure of the CHFCs, demonstrating the potential of the material for the development of a new sensor system for aliphatic acid vapors sensing.

Pengaruh Berat Karbon Aktif Kulit Jagung terhadap Penurunan COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) Limbah Cair Industri Batik

Background: The batik industry produces chemical waste with a COD value of 1918 mg/l; (above the safe threshold of 150 mg/l). One of the wastewater treatment methods is using activated carbon, including corn husks. This study aims to determine the effect of the weight of corn husk activated carbon on the reduction of COD in batik industrial wastewater. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a non-randomized pretest-posttest control group design using liquid waste from one of the batik industries in Rejomulyo Village, East Semarang District. This experiment applied five weight variations of corn husk activated carbon, namely 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 grams with 4 repetitions, and 4 control samples. The effect of the treatment was observed in 50 minutes. The observations were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test. Results: The range and mean COD values before and after treatment were 3174.32 -5136.43 mg/l, and 584.29 - 1049.20 mg/l, respectively. The decrease in COD according to treatment ranged from 80.83% to 84.76%, while in the control group it was only 2.90%. There was an effect of the weight of corn husk activated carbon to decrease COD of batik industrial wastewater (p = 0.015), and there was an effect of the weight of corn husk activated carbon to decrease COD of batik industrial wastewater between control group and treatment group (p = 0.021). Conclusion: Corn husk activated carbon has a high potential to reduce the COD of chemical waste in the batik industry.

SYNTHESIS OF ACTIVATED CARBON AND CMC BEADS FROM CORN HUSK FOR EFFLUENT TREATMENT

Adsorption of dyes from the effluent is a well-known and feasible method been used in the industry. In the present work we are using corn husk agricultural waste as a sustainable raw material for synthesizing activated carbon using biopolymer carboxyl methyl cellulose for formation of beads. The beads formed are been used for removal of reactive ultra-orange RGB , acid telon yellow FG 01, basic coracryl red C2B. The surface area of beads is 39.87m2 /g. The maximum adsorption of reactive orange RGB , acid telon yellow and basic coracryl red is 68.25mg/g, 72.54mg/g and 30.21mg/g for 50ml of dye solution. The stock solution 0.4g/l of dye solution was prepared for each dye respectively. The beads formed shows a variable pH from 2 to 12 which is favourable for textile effluent. This is a green approach to use the agricultural waste for waste water treatment.

Functional Application for the Corn Leaf Fibre to Make Reinforced Polymer Composites Sheet

This research work has mainly utilized agricultural waste material to make a good-quality composite sheet product of the profitable, pollution free, economical better for farmer and industries. In this study, from corn leaf fibre to reinforced epoxy composite product has been utilized with minimum 35 to maximum range 55% but according to earlier studies, pulp composite material was used in minimum 10 to maximum 27%. Natural fibre-based composites are under intensive study due to their light weight, eco-friendly nature and unique properties. Due to the continuous supply, easy of handling, safety and biodegradability, natural fibre is considered as better alternative in replacing many structural and non-structural components. Corn leaf fibre pulp can be new source of raw material to the industries and can be potential replacement for the expensive and non-renewable synthetic fibre. Corn leaf fibre as the filler material and epoxy as the matrix material were used by changing reinforcement weight fraction. Composites were prepared using hand lay-up techniques by maintaining constant fibre and matrix volume fraction. The sample of the composites thus fabricated was subjected to tensile, impact test for finding the effect of corn husk in different concentrations.

Preliminary Study of the Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Fibres Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

This research project investigates the mechanical properties of the corn husk fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composite (CHFPC) and hybrid fibre (corn husk/flax) reinforced unsaturated polyester composite (HFPC) at different fibre orientations. The tensile and flexural properties of CHFPC and HFPC were manipulated by the different degrees of fibre orientations of 0°, 45°, and 90°. Both CHFPC and HFPC with 0° of fibre orientation had the highest tensile strength and flexural strength. Moreover, the tensile and flexural modulus of specimens with 0° orientation had the highest result compared to 45° and 90° orientations. However, for the elongation at break during tensile testing, 0° orientation had the highest strain, more than unsaturated polyester (UPR) and other composites. The tensile and flexural strengths of HFPC specimens with 0° fibre orientation were higher than that of CHFPC. Besides, the tensile modulus and flexural modulus of HFPC also increased as compared to CHFPC. The elongation at break of HFPC for tensile testing had the highest strain compared to CHFPC. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the hybrid fibre composite performed better compared to the single fibre composite. Moreover, the corn husk fibre (CHF) and flax fibre (FF) acted as reinforcements to enhance the mechanical properties of the UPR composites.

Mechanical properties of polyester/corn husk fibre composite produced using vacuum infusion technique

Issues pertaining to deforestation, environmental pollution and natural wastes are increasing day by day. These issues can be resolved by introducing a new composite material, in which natural waste is used as fibre and as a replacement of wood plastic composite. The different lengths (3, 6 and 9 cm) of corn husk fibre filled polyester composites were produced using the vacuum infusion method. Several mechanical properties of these polyester composites, such as tensile and flexural properties, were evaluated. The results revealed that both the tensile and flexural properties of polyester composites increased with increment of corn husk fibre length from 3 to 6 cm. However, the results decreased for 9 cm of fibre length filled composites. Similar trends were recorded after alkali treatment of the corn husk fibre filled polyester composites. The alkali treatment with sodium hydroxide had improved the tensile strength (33%), Young’s modulus (23%), elongation (14%), flexural strength (42%) and flexural modulus (8.5%) of the polyester/corn husk fibre composites with 6 cm of fibre length by enhancing the mechanical interlocking bonding between treated corn husk fibres and polyester.

Characterization of cellulose acetate functional groups synthesized from corn husk (Zea mays)

The use of masks is very important to reduce transmission of the COVID 19 virus. Therefore, an innovation is needed from mask materials is that are environmentally friendly, have good filtration quality and have anti-virus agents. An alternative way to provide masks with good filterability using a raw material of cellulose acetate. Cellulose acetate has fibrils that are bonded together so that it can form dense fibers. Fiber is a semipermeable layer that functions as a particle filtration. Therefore, this study aims to get cellulose from corn husks via delignification. The research method consisted of extracting cellulose from corn husks and further synthesizing cellulose acetate. FTIR results showed an absorption peak at wave numbers 3349 cm-1, 1728 cm-1, 1252 cm-1, and 1031 cm-1. These peaks indicated the presence functional groups of OH, C=O, aryl ether, and C-O. This functional group indicates a cellulose acetate compound.