ANATOMICAL PROPERTIES OF STRAW OF VARIOUS ANNUAL PLANTS USED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WOOD PANELS

The aim of this study was to determine basic anatomical features of annual plant fibers used as wood substitutes for the production of wood-based panels. For this purpose rye, wheat, triticale, rape and corn straw were used. The determination of the morphological features of the fibers was conducted on the macerated material. Fiber lengths, fiber diameters and lumens were measured, and then the fiber wall thicknesses and slenderness ratios were calculated. The result clearly showed significant differences among all fiber characteristics of the tested plants. The strength and direction of the relationship between the anatomical properties determined in the study and the physicomechanical properties of the boards produced with straw from the tested annual plants were identified.

Longitudinal variation of wood basic density and anatomy of Curatella americana L

Studies with Curatella americana L wood are justified due to scarce information about this species. In this context, we collected wood samples from six trees (ages varied between 30-40 years old) planted in Selvíria (MS- Brazil). Our objective was to verify longitudinal variation of basic density and wood anatomy. From each sampled tree, 5 cm thick discs were removed, at three different heights: base of the trunk (≈ 15cm from the ground), DBH (diameter at breast height, 1m30cm from the ground), and top of the trunk (commercial height of tree with a minimum diameter of 5 cm). We use standardized methods for basic density and wood anatomy. According to results, we concluded that basic density, fiber length, fiber wall thickness, vessel element length, vessel diameter, and vessel frequency were influenced by different heights. However, in ray percentage, no significant variation was observed. The basic density correlates positively with length and fiber wall thickness, and negatively with vessel frequency.

Original Installation for Researching the Process of Forming Polysulfone Hollow Fiber Membranes

In this work an original installation (manipulator) has been created that allows one to obtain up to 30 samples of hollow fiber membranes in one molding cycle, while simultaneously varying the molding conditions in a wide range (polymer concentration, nature of solvent and precipitant, exposure time in air and in a precipitant environment, post-processing and washing modes samples, diameter of the carrier needle). This installation makes it possible to move to a fundamentally higher level of accumulation of experimental data on the relationship "the composition of the spinning solution - the structure of the hollow fiber membrane - the separating properties of the membrane." It will also make it possible to involve in these studies new laboratory samples of polymers whose synthesis volumes are insufficient for the existing methods of obtaining laboratory samples of hollow fiber membranes. The principle of operation of the manipulator was worked out when obtaining mini-samples of hollow fiber PSF membranes from 24 wt. % PSF solution in NMP with the addition of 19 wt. % PEG-400 blowing agent on a carrier needle with external deposition. Mini-samples were obtained for studies of morphology, mechanical, transport and separation properties in one molding cycle of the manipulator. The properties of mini-samples of hollow fiber PSF membrane were compared with the properties of a membrane made by the method of “dry-wet” molding with internal deposition from a solution of the same composition. It was found that the porous structures of the membranes differ significantly from each other. In a hollow fiber PSF membrane obtained on a manipulator, the porous structure was spongy with separate macrovoids of various shapes. However, in the membrane obtained by the “dry-wet” method, a dense selective layer was formed on the inner side of the backing layer of elongated finger-shaped pores. It is the formation of spongy pores along the entire perimeter of the fiber wall that led to a decrease in the permeability of the hollow fiber PSF membrane obtained on the manipulator. Thus, not only the composition of the solution, but also the molding method makes a significant contribution to the properties of the membrane.

Application of Ethylene Oxide Gas and Argon Gas Mixture System Method for Scale Deacidification of Cellulose-Based Cultural Heritage Collections

Deacidification plays an important role in the conservation of paper-based cultural heritage objects. Herein, a novel approach for the conservation of scale paper-based cultural heritage objects is proposed using a mixture of argon and ethylene oxide (EO-Ar) for the first time. The optimum process conditions for deacidification of ethylene oxide and argon mixture system are determined by orthogonal testing. To evaluate the stabilization effect of paper treated with EO-Ar, the degradation of the mechanical properties (tensile strength, folding endurance and tearing strength tests) of paper after artificial aging was evaluated. The results show that the treated paper had better durability with respect to tensile strength, folding endurance and tearing strength. Additionally, thermal stability, crystallinity and fiber wall thickness increased after EO-Ar treated, which was determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), diffraction of X-rays (XRD), and thermo gravimetric (TG) analysis. Some compounds, such as polyethylene glycol, organic acids, esters, were detected by GC-MS after treatment with EO-Ar. Two hundred and forty books including acidic, weak acidic and alkaline books were successfully deacidified, resulting in pH values of paper ranges suitable for paper preservation. Finally, a possible mechanism of deacidification of EO-Ar was proposed.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE OIL-HEAT TREATED WOODS FROM TROPICAL FAST GROWING WOOD SPECIES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oil-heat treatment on the anatomical, physical, and chemical properties of the tropical fast-growing wood species as gmelina (Gmelinaarborea) and mindi (Melia azedarach) wood. Vessel lumen area and diameter in radial and tangential direction of both species increased with increasing temperature. The fiber lumen areas in both woods were remarkably decreased by oil-heat treatment, and the fiber wall area increased considerably with increasing temperature. Both woods tended to gain weight after heat treatment at 180°C and 200°C, and then lose weight after heat treatment at 220°C. The density of mindi increased greatly at 180°C and 200°C and slightly decreased at 220°C. The dimension of the specimens in tangential direction increased with heat treatment, but the rate decreased with increasing temperature. The relative crystallinity and crystallite width of the heat-treated woods were greater than those of the untreated wood. In the Fourier transform infrared analyses, the peaks from the carbohydrates were changed after oil-heat treatment, mainly due to the degradation of hemicellulose. Consequently, it was revealed that the heat treatment affected various properties of gmelina and mindi woods. Differing characteristics between the species were also noted.

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE STEM ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS OF TERMINALIA L. (COMBRETACEAE) IN EGYPT

A comparative investigation of the anatomical characters through a microscopical examination of the prepared transverse sections of the stem was carried out. Six plates with 32 photomicrographs were provided to convincingly show the considerable variations of anatomical characters within the nine examined species. The matrix of 18 anatomical characters which included nine quantitative and nine qualitative was applied for the clustering analysis (CA) followed by the principal component analysis (PCA) using the Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data, PC-ORD. The results exhibited significant variations among the species resulting in the construction of an artificial key; this key accurately represents a sufficient tool to display the considerable variation among the recognized species prominently. The distinction between Terminalia L., 1767 species based on significant variations in the elements of stem anatomy; axial parenchyma and ray characteristics were considered as important parameters, while vessel diameter, fiber wall thickness, etc. were considered minor characters to differentiate between the studied species. The potential usefulness of the differentiation of these species properly maintains a profound efficiency in pharmaceutical and traditional medicine.

In Situ Precipitated Calcium Carbonate in the Presence of Pulp Fibers – A Beating Study

The paper industry around the world is in search for new ways to decrease production costs. New approached with additives such as new developed In Situ precipitated paper fillers materials have the potential to reduce production cost and increase profit margins. In Situ precipitated calcium carbonate filler with 20.9% and 41.7% filler material was produced in a large-scale laboratory unit using a eucalyptus pulp fiber suspension with a 1.7% fiber solids content. Laboratory beating tests were performed with a Valley Beater and APFI Mill using pure eucalyptus pulp with no filler content as the based trial and the two-laboratory manufactured In Situ precipitated filler pulps. Valley Beater and PFI Mill laboratory beating machines show similar differences/trends for the breaking length, tear and burst index. EC-pulp with no filler has the highest strength for breaking length, tear and burst index. With increasing filler level breaking length, tear and burst index decrease. Filler containing pulp shows a decrease in beating time for the same beating level. 20 minutes for the Valley Beater and 15000 revolutions for the PFI mill show highest change in pulp fiber beating level sufficient for paper making operation. Valley Beater and PFI Mill laboratory equipment operate different and an exact comparison of the beating curves is not possible. Based on the amount of pulp fiber needed for experiments the Valley Beater for large amounts and the PFI mill for smaller amounts should be selected. The SEM pictographs of the Valley Beater and PFI Mill beating trials from 0 stage to the high beating stage at 80 minutes for the Valley beater and 60000 revolutions for the PFI Mill show similar results. No damage to the fibers is noticeable at the unbeaten level. With increasing beating level. At a magnification of 430 times the fiber structure shows an increasing dense fiber structure with less visible pores. Magnification of 2500 times reveals increasing damage to the fiber wall and fiber surface.

Changes in the cellulose fiber wall supramolecular structure during the initial stages of chemical treatments of wood evaluated by NMR and X-ray scattering

The effect of initial stages of pulping of spruce, resembling prehydrolysis and alkaline cooking was studied using CP/MAS 13C-NMR, X-ray scattering, FSP and carbohydrate composition in order to study the impact of the pre-treatments on the fiber wall nanostructure. Removal of fiber wall components, hemicellulose and lignin, increased the fiber wall porosity and induced cellulose fibril aggregation. The effect of temperature and pH in the treatment on cellulose fibril aggregate size appears to be secondary. It is the removal of hemicellulose that has a profound effect on the supramolecular structure of the cellulose fiber wall. As the amount of hemicellulose dissolved from wood increases, the fibril aggregate size determined by NMR increases as well, ranging from 16 to 28 nm. Specifically, a good correlation between the amount of glucomannan in the fiber wall and the fibril aggregate size is seen. The lower the amount of glucomannan, the larger the aggregate size. Glucomannan thus seems to prevent aggregation as it acts as a very efficient spacer between fibrils. Elemental fibril size determined by NMR, was quite similar for all samples, ranging from 3.6 to 4.1 nm. By combining measurement methods, a more well-resolved picture of the structural changes occurring during was obtained.

Differences and similarities between kraft and oxygen delignification of softwood fibers: effects on chemical and physical properties

The fiber properties after oxygen delignification and kraft pulping were studied by looking into the chemical characteristics and morphology. The effect of the two processes on the fibers was evaluated and compared over a wider kappa number range (from 62 down to15). Wide-angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance and fiber saturation point were used to characterize the fiber network structure. Fiber morphology and fiber dislocations were evaluated by an optical image analysis. The total and surface fiber charges were studied by conductometric and polyelectrolyte titrations. The fiber wall supramolecular structure, such as crystallinity, size of fibril aggregates, pore size and pore volume, were similar for the two processes. The selectivity, in terms of carbohydrate yield, was equal for kraft cooking and oxygen delignification, but the selectivity in terms of viscosity loss per amount of delignification is poorer for oxygen delignification. Clearly more fiber deformations (2–6% units in curl index) in the fibers after oxygen delignification were seen. Introduction of curl depended on the physical state of the fibers, i.e. liberated or in wood matrix. In the pulping stage, the fiber continue to be supported by neighboring fibers, as the delignified chips maintain their form. However, in the subsequent oxygen stage the fibers enter in the form of pulp (liberated fibers), which makes them more susceptible to changes in fiber form. Graphic abstract