Utilization of various lignocellulosic substrates for Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom cultivation in the manufacturing of polycaprolactone (PCL)-based biocomposite films

The possibility of using beech wood sawdust and hazelnut husk waste generated during the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms as a filler in polycaprolactone (PCL)-based biocomposite films was investigated. Chemical and physical properties of the PCL biocomposites were determined. The beech sawdust and hazelnut husk were exposed to degradation for 73 d and 78 d, respectively, in slightly acidic environments at a relative humidity of 75%. The degraded materials caused the holocellulose and lignin contents in the PCL biocomposites to decrease, while the cellulose and α-cellulose contents increased. In general, as the lignocellulosic waste content increased, the tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EatB) values decreased and the tensile modulus (TM) and water absorption (WA) values increased. It was determined that the PCL biocomposite with the degraded beech sawdust absorbed more water than the composite with the undegraded beech sawdust. On the other hand, the PCL biocomposite with the degraded hazelnut husk absorbed less water than the composite with the raw hazelnut husk.

Removal of Azo and Anthraquinone Dye by Plant Biomass as Adsorbent – A Review

Acting as a key element for the survival of human and nature, clean water also contributes tremendously to the ever-growing industries in a country. However, the supply of clean water had led to a decrease as pollutants such as dyes had caused a major negative impact on pure and clean main water bodies. In recent years, textile industries have developed and contributed to more than 50% of dye wastewaters in the world. The improper method of discharging dye effluent to the aquatic environment caused the destruction of habitat and degradation of water quality. Advanced treatments such as photocatalysis, electrooxidation, the Fenton process, and biological treatment via bacterium are often used for dye wastewaters. However, these treatment processes are often expensive in operation and maintenance. In conjunction, adsorption is one of the efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly treatment methods. The adsorbent most widely used is the activated carbon adsorbent. Activated carbon comes in two forms, granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC). There are two methods to activation of carbon that are physical activation and chemical activation. The factors affecting the efficiency of adsorption are the adsorbent dosage, dye concentration, pH value, and temperature. In this article, the efficiency of dye wastewater treatment via adsorption is discussed. Several waste materials are being studied especially agricultural biomass as it has little or no economic value and often poses disposal issues. Some low-cost agricultural biomass-based adsorbents such as tea waste, hazelnut husk, bacteria aggregate, rice ash, pineapple leaf, and fruit waste have been tested to be effective in the dye removal process. There are mainly four categories of agricultural biomass-derived adsorbent, such as leaf-based, peel-based, stem-based, and seed-based adsorbents.

Effects of Using Hazelnut Husk, Wood Shaving and of the Mixture at Different Thicknesses on Broiler Performances, Some Organ Weights, Foot-Pad Dermatitis and Litter Traits

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the use of hazelnut husk (HH), wood shavings (WS) and the mixture of 50% hazelnut husk + 50% wood shavings (MIX) in two different thicknesses (4 and 8 cm) as a litter material in broiler production. The experiment was carried out as a factorial experimental design (3 litter type and 2 thickness) and stocking density was 10 chickens per m2. At 6 wk. of age, the effect of litter types and thicknesses on broiler live weights, feed efficiency, and livability, were not significant. Also, no differences were found in terms of gizzard, digestive tract, abdominal fat and edible internal organ weight percentages. While carcass yield varied between litter groups, there was no difference between litter thicknesses. The litter moisture levels at the end of the trial were not affected the litter type and litter thickness, while the foot pad dermatitis (FPD) rates were significantly affected. The highest FPD levels were determined in the HH litter and 4 cm thickness. As a result, the use of HH, WS and MIX of them with a thickness of 4 and 8 cm had no effect on other traits except for FPD levels. It has been observed that these litter materials may be used successfully in broiler production and use of 8 cm thickness litter has minor positive effects except that the cost of litter has doubled.

Effects of Forces, Particle Sizes, and Moisture Contents on Mechanical Behaviour of Densified Briquettes from Ground Sunflower Stalks and Hazelnut Husks

Using the uniaxial compression process, the mechanical behaviour of densified briquettes from ground sunflower stalks and hazelnut husks was studied under different forces (100, 200, 300, and 400 kN), particle sizes (0, 3, 6, and 10 mm), and moisture contents (sunflower; 11.23%, 14.44%, and 16.89% w.b.) and (hazelnut; 12.64%, 14.83%, and 17.34% w.b.) at a constant speed of 5 mm min−1. For each test, the biomass material was compacted at a constant volume of 28.27 × 10−5 m3 using a 60 mm-diameter vessel. Determined parameters included densification energy (J), hardness (kN·mm−1), analytical densification energy (J), briquette volume (m3), bulk density of materials (kg·m−3), briquette bulk density (kg·m−3), and briquette volume energy (J·m−3). The ANOVA multivariate tests of significance results showed that for ground sunflower stalk briquettes, the force and particle size interactions had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the above-mentioned parameters compared to the categorical factors, which had a significant effect (p < 0.05) similar to the effects of forces, moisture contents, and their interactions. For ground hazelnut husk briquettes, all the factors and their interactions had a significant effect on the determined parameters. These biomass materials could be attractive for the briquette market.