Computational Simulation Tools to Support the Tissue Paper Furnish Management: Case Studies for the Optimization of Micro/Nano Cellulose Fibers and Polymer-Based Additives

Tissue paper production frequently combines two main types of raw materials: cellulose fibers from renewable sources and polymer-based additives. The development of premium products with improved properties and functionalities depends on the optimization of both. This work focused on the combination of innovative experimental and computational strategies to optimize furnish. The main goal was to improve the functional properties of the most suitable raw materials for tissue materials and develop new differentiating products with innovative features. The experimental plan included as inputs different fiber mixtures, micro/nano fibrillated cellulose, and biopolymer additives, and enzymatic and mechanical process operations. We present an innovative tissue paper simulator, the SimTissue, that we have developed, to establish the correlations between the tissue paper process inputs and the end-use paper properties. Case studies with industrial interest are presented in which the tissue simulator was used to design tissue paper materials with different fiber mixtures, fiber modification treatments, micro/nano fibrillated cellulose, and biopolymer formulations, and to estimate tissue softness, strength, and absorption properties. The SimTissue was able to predict and optimize a broader range of formulations containing micro/nanocellulose fibers, biopolymer additives, and treated-fiber mixtures, saving laboratory and industrial resources.

Laboratory Performance and Field Case Study of Asphalt Mixture with Sasobit Treated Aramid Fiber as Modifier

The use of fiber in asphalt mixtures can improve the mixture’s tensile strength and increase its cracking resistance, but the clumping of fiber in the mixture can weaken the improvement effect. The aim of this research is to assess the properties of Sasobit treated aramid fiber modified asphalt mixture and to validate the field case study. The rutting and stripping resistance of the fiber-modified mixture was identified with the Hamburg wheel tracking device. The low-temperature cracking characteristics of the asphalt mixture were quantified with the disk-shaped compact tension test. Moreover, the dynamic modulus test was adopted to reflect the response of the mixture to different loads and frequencies. The creep slope and stripping slope decreased by 67%, and the number of passes to stripping point and fail point increased by more than 250% after fiber modification. The fracture energy, peak load, and maximum crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the mixture increased more than 10% after fiber modification. The dynamic modulus, rutting parameter, and fatigue parameter of the mixture were improved after fiber modification. The fiber in the mixture improved the stiffness of the mixture at high temperatures. The tensile strength improvement at low temperatures promoted the cracking resistance of the mixture. The cracking number in the fiber modified asphalt pavement was less than that in the control asphalt pavement. Thus, fiber modification could significantly restrict the propagation of cracking in the asphalt mixture. The implementation of fiber in the project can provide experience for future fiber application in asphalt pavement.

Evaluation of mechanical performance and water absorption properties of modified sugarcane bagasse high-density polyethylene plastic bag green composites

Enormous amounts of plastic wastes are generated worldwide and the approaches related to plastic recycling or reusing have become the research focus in the field of composite materials. In this study, green composites were prepared via melt-blending method using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sourced from plastic bags as a matrix and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) fiber as reinforcing filler. The effects of fiber loading (5, 10 and 15 wt%) and fiber modification on the mechanical and dimensional stability (weight gain by water absorption) properties of the green composites were investigated. Results showed that the inclusion of SCB fiber into recycled HDPE matrix increased the composite stiffness but decreased the mechanical strength and resistance to water absorption. With the fiber modification through alkali treatment, the mechanical strength was remarkably improved, and the modulus and water absorption of the composites were found to be reduced. From the finding, it can be concluded that the prepared green composites free of coupling agent could add value to the plastic and agricultural wastes, and serve a potential candidate to replace some conventional petroleum-based composites.

Influence of the pre-treatment of nanofibers obtained from mushrooms on the mechanical properties of the paper

The influence of the pre-treatment process (freezing, drying) on the tensile properties of chitin paper obtained from nanofibers of three commercial species of fungi: oyster mushrooms (P. ostreatus), enoki (F. velutipes) and shiitake (L. edodes) was investigated. The chitin nanofibers were extracted by a mild alkaline process. The highest tensile strength was observed for paper obtained from fresh mushrooms fibers, which may result from the lack of the chitin fiber modification. Freezing and drying processes have been found to reduce the strength of the paper, possibly due to ice crystal formation and the keratinization effect of the nanofibers, respectively. The paper obtained from enoki fungus nanofibers was characterized by the highest tensile strength, which may be due to the very long fiber. However, in terms of elongation at break, the best results were obtained with oyster mushrooms nanofibers, probably due to the relatively shorter chitin fiber. The long enoki nanofibers can therefore be used as a good reinforcement of the paper.

Effect of Extrusion and Steam Pressure on Fiber and Nutritional Properties of Pineapple Peels

Research finding on modification of pineapple peel through extrusion and steam pressure have led to increasing fiber and nutritional properties of the pineapple powder. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of extrusion processing and steam pressure on soluble and insoluble fiber contents, antioxidant activities, sugar profile and proximate contents. The extrusion of Morris pineapple peel increased soluble dietary fiber (SDF-2.8 folds), insoluble dietary fiber (IDF-1.2 folds) and total dietary fiber (TDF-1.3 folds). Steam pressure treatment also show the same trends of fiber modification in Morris peel (SDF-3.4 folds, IDF-1 folds, TDF-1.2 folds). The sugar profile showed that fructose and glucose increased after fiber modification. Total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH test) had been used to determine antioxidant activity in both processing method. The results of the proximate analysis showed that protein, crude fiber and moisture content affected by extrusion and steam pressure process of pineapple peel. It can be conclude that modification of fiber through extrusion and steam pressure is able to alter fiber and nutritional properties of pineapple peel.

Fabrication, Modification, and Characterization of Lignin-Based Electrospun Fibers Derived from Distinctive Biomass Sources

From the environmental point of view, there is high demand for the preparation of polymeric materials for various applications from renewable and/or waste sources. New lignin-based spun fibers were produced, characterized, and probed for use in methylene blue (MB) dye removal in this study. The lignin was extracted from palm fronds (PF) and banana bunch (BB) feedstock using catalytic organosolv treatment. Different polymer concentrations of either a plasticized blend of renewable polymers such as polylactic acid/polyhydroxybutyrate blend (PLA-PHB-ATBC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a potential waste material were used as matrices to generate lignin-based fibers by the electrospinning technique. The samples with the best fiber morphologies were further modified after iodine handling to ameliorate and expedite the thermostabilization process. To investigate the adsorption of MB dye from aqueous solution, two approaches of fiber modification were utilized. First, electrospun fibers were carbonized at 500 °C with aim of generating lignin-based carbon fibers with a smooth appearance. The second method used an in situ oxidative chemical polymerization of m-toluidine monomer to modify electrospun fibers, which were then nominated by hybrid composites. SEM, TGA, FT-IR, BET, elemental analysis, and tensile measurements were employed to evaluate the composition, morphology, and characteristics of manufactured fibers. The hybrid composite formed from an OBBL/PET fiber mat has been shown to be a promising adsorbent material with a capacity of 9 mg/g for MB dye removal.