Spanish Poplar Biomass as a Precursor for Nanocellulose Extraction

The effect of acidic hydrolysis duration on nanocellulose size, morphology, and proper ties was investigated, which opens up a whole new horizon of versatility in poplar applications. This study aimed to examine Spanish poplar wastes as raw material to extract crystalline nanocellulose (CNC), which substantiates the importance of poplar wastes. Wastes were pulped using 1 L of 10% NaOH (wt./wt.) solution, and bleached several times by NaClO2; afterwards, white wastes were subjected to acidic hydrolysis by 60% H2SO4 for either 5, 10, or 15 min. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) underwent a similar hydrolysis protocol as poplar as control. TEM, IR, and XRD characterization techniques were performed. Poplar based nanocellulose sized 219 nm length and 69 nm width after 15 min acidic hydrolysis. MCC yielded 122 nm length and 12 nm width crystals after 10 min acidic hydrolysis. Hydrolysis resulted in a drastic change and intense peaks at 3500 and 2900 cm−1 for nanocellulose. Although pre-hydrolysis fiber treatment was not influencial on the crystallinity of poplar, acidic hydrolysis remarkably raised the crystallinity index (CI) by 7–8%. The more hydrolysis duration was prolonged, the size of the resulting crystal (whisker) decreased, and the aspect ratio increased. Hydrolysis was more impactful on MCC than poplar. However, for future work, it seems that longer duration of pulping and bleaching could have significantly removed unwanted components (hemicellulose and lignin), showcased in IR and XRD, and hence smoothened the following hydrolysis.

249 Increasing Structural Fiber Improves Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

Fiber ingredients in swine diets have various components that affect the intestinal tract distinctively. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of structural fiber sources on growth performance of nursery pigs. A total of 1,760 weanling pigs (initial BW = 6.12 ± 0.3 kg, 16 reps/trt, 22 pigs/pen) were used in a study with 5 dietary treatments: 1) Complex nursery diet with no additional fiber (CON); 2) CON + 2% rice hulls; 3) CON + 4% rice hulls; 4) CON + 6% wheat middlings; 5) CON + 12% wheat middlings. Fiber ingredients were added at the expense of corn and some processed soybean meal to maintain similar dietary protein levels. Using an in vitro fermentation estimation of fermentation for rice hulls and wheat middlings, diets were constructed to add similar levels of structural (non-fermentable NDF) fiber between low and high additions of rice hulls and wheat middlings. Pens across two barns were randomly allotted independent of one another and within a location block to one of the five treatments on d 0 of a two-phase study (d 0–11 and d 11–20.5 post-weaning). Data were analyzed by general linear model in R. Mortality and removal data were analyzed as a generalized linear mixed model with a binomial distribution. Contrasts tested the effect of additional fiber (CON vs treatments 2–5), effect of medium vs high fiber (treatment 2/4 vs 3/5), effect of source of fiber (treatment 2/3 vs 4/5), and the interaction of level and source of fiber. Overall (Table 1), additional fiber resulted in increased ADFI (P < 0.05) and tended to increase ADG (P < 0.10). Probability of mortality and removal was reduced (P < 0.05) when additional fiber was included. In summary, increasing the level of structural fiber improved performance and livability of nursery pigs.

Adsorption of Cellulases on BHKP Fibers during Pretreatment for MFC Film Preparation

Adsorption of cellulase on fibers is a key factor in determining its efficiency on fiber treatment and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) preparation. Different adsorption behavior, treatment efficiency and performance of MFC and MFC film were observed due to the different properties of cellulases. Herein, bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (BHKP) was pretreated by complex cellulase (D cellulase) and endocellulase (R cellulase) with different dosages for MFC preparation. Enzyme activity, adsorption ratio, adsorption kinetics and adsorption thermodynamic of the two cellulases were comprehensively studied, and the impacts of the cellulase pretreatment on the properties of MFC and MFC film were investigated. The results showed that D cellulase possessed higher adsorption ratio than R cellulase, but R cellulase demonstrated higher adsorption rate than D cellulase. High temperature discouraged the adsorption of the two cellulases because of their exothermic natures. The crystallinity index (CrI), specific surface area (SSA) and morphology of MFC were tuned by the combination of two cellulases at different dosages. The CrI of MFC treated by D cellulase and R cellulase increased from 40.45% to 66.50% and 66.67% respectively when the cellulase dosage was 10 U/g. The elongation at break (E) and tensile strength (TS) of MFC film treated by D cellulase were decreased first and then increased slightly, but the MFC film treated by R cellulase decreased continuously. The MFC film prepared by D cellulase possessed the best barrier property at 20 U/g and the corresponding oxygen permeability coefficient was 4.37×10-14 cm3·cm/cm2·s·Pa. However, the oxygen permeability coefficient of MFC film pretreated by R cellulase at a dosage of 10 U/g was 4.13×10-14 cm3·cm/cm2·s·Pa. This work shows that R cellulase was more suitable than D cellulase for BHKP pretreatment to prepare MFC film.

Extraction and Characterization of Fiber Treatment Inula Viscosa Fibers as Potential Polymer Composite Reinforcement

This research aims to analyze the newly discovered cellulosic fiber from the bark of Dittrichia viscosa, or Inula viscosa (IV), and evaluate the effects of permanganate and alkali chemical treatments on the physical properties to improve the interfacial bonding between Inula viscosa reinforced polymer composites. These permanganate and alkali treatments are both efficacious in helping in reducing hydrophilicity and eliminating impurities from the fiber surface, which has been confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). Permanganate-treated IVFs have shown higher tensile strength and interfacial stress resistance (IFFS) than alkaline IVFs, and untreated IVFs by tensile and droplet tests. The different characteristics were studied and compared with other bark fibers already available. It is estimated that the fiber treatments will enable high-quality IVF-reinforced polymer composites for use in the industry.

Acacia Gum Is Well Tolerated While Increasing Satiety and Lowering Peak Blood Glucose Response in Healthy Human Subjects

Acacia gum (AG) is a non-viscous soluble fiber that is easily incorporated into beverages and foods. To determine its physiological effects in healthy human subjects, we fed 0, 20, and 40 g of acacia gum in orange juice along with a bagel and cream cheese after a 12 h fast and compared satiety, glycemic response, gastrointestinal tolerance, and food intake among treatments. Subjects (n = 48) reported less hunger and greater fullness at 15 min (p = 0.019 and 0.003, respectively) and 240 min (p = 0.036 and 0.05, respectively) after breakfast with the 40 g fiber treatment. They also reported being more satisfied at 15 min (p = 0.011) and less hungry with the 40 g fiber treatment at 30 min (p = 0.012). Subjects reported more bloating, flatulence, and GI rumbling on the 40 g fiber treatment compared to control, although values for GI tolerance were all low with AG treatment. No significant differences were found in area under the curve (AUC) or change from baseline for blood glucose response, although actual blood glucose with 20 g fiber at 30 min was significantly less than control. Individuals varied greatly in their postprandial glucose response to all treatments. AG improves satiety response and may lower peak glucose response at certain timepoints, and it is well tolerated in healthy human subjects. AG can be added to beverages and foods in doses that can help meet fiber recommendations.

Effect of coconut fiber treatment with limestone water media on the fiber surface, wettability, and interface shear strength

The development of technology has increased the need for composite materials, where the technology of composite materials with natural fiber reinforcement is growing. The existence of natural fiber is very abundant, and it has not been fully utilized. Until now, the use of coconut fiber was still limited to the furniture and household handicraft industries. Coconut coir fiber has the potential as a raw material for composite materials. The lack of strength of the bonds is due to the hydrophobic fiber, and the fiber surface is less rough, and dirty. This study evaluates the coir surface characteristic of the fiber and its bounding with the polyester matrix after being treated by limestone water. The scanning electron microscope was used for observing fiber surfaces and surface matrix. The wettability test to observe fiber surface energy was performed. Interface shear strength to evaluate the bonds between fibers and matrix was determined. Coconut coir fibers were immersed in limestone water, with a 5 % percentage of limestone and time variations of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 hours. The scanning microscope electron observations of fibers show that the fiber surface tends to be clean, rough, and grooved. The highest surface energy was obtained at 40.74 mN/m during the limestone water immersion for 8 hours. The highest value of the interface shear strength between the fiber and the matrix is 3.80 MPa during 8-hour immersion, 0, 4, 12, 16, and 20-hour immersion, respectively, 3.02, 3.09, 3.52, 3.47, and 4.40 MPa. The results showed that coir fiber with limestone water immersion for 8 hours had a clean, rough, and grooved surface so that the bond between the fiber and matrix was better. This research shows that limestone water can be used as a fiber treatment medium which was natural