Biomass Valorization of Walnut Shell for Liquefaction Efficiency

Globally, lignocellulosic biomass has great potential for industrial production of materials and products, but this resource must be used in an environmentally friendly, socially acceptable and sustainable manner. Wood and agricultural residues such as walnut shells as lignocellulosic biomass are one of the most affordable and important renewable resources in the world, which can partially replace fossil resources. The overall objective of the research is to provide background information that supports new applications of walnut shells in a biorefinery context and to increase the economic value of these non-wood forest products. This paper presents the properties characterization of liquefied biomass according to their chemical composition. All results were compared to liquefied wood. In this study, the liquefaction properties of five different walnut shell particle sizes were determined using glycerol as the liquefaction reagent under defined reaction conditions. The liquefied biomass was characterized for properties such as percentage residue, degree of liquefaction, and hydroxyl OH numbers. The chemical composition of the same biomass was investigated for its influence on the liquefaction properties. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to determine the liquefaction properties of different particle sizes as a function of their chemical composition, also in comparison with the chemical composition of wood. The study revealed that walnut shell biomass can be effectively liquefied into glycerol using H2SO4 as the catalyst, with liquefaction efficiency ranging from 89.21 to 90.98%.

Biochar Characterization Produced from Walnut Shell Biomass through Slow Pyrolysis: Sustainable for Soil Amendment and an Alternate Bio-Fuel

Bio-char has the ability to isolate carbon in soils and concurrently improve plant growth and soil quality, high energy density and also it can be used as an adsorbent for water treatment. In the current work, the characteristics of four different types of bio-chars, obtained from slow pyrolysis at 375 °C, produced from hard-, medium-, thin- and paper-shelled walnut residues have been studied. Bio-char properties such as proximate, ultimate analysis, heating values, surface area, pH values, thermal degradation behavior, morphological and crystalline nature and functional characterization using FTIR were determined. The pyrolytic behavior of bio-char is studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in an oxidizing atmosphere. SEM analysis confirmed morphological change and showed heterogeneous and rough texture structure. Crystalline nature of the bio-chars is established by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis. The maximum higher heating values (HHV), high fixed carbon content and surface area obtained for walnut shells (WS) samples are found as ~ 18.4 MJ kg−1, >80% and 58 m2/g, respectively. Improvement in HHV and decrease of O/C and H/C ratios lead the bio-char samples to fall into the category of coal and confirmed their hydrophobic, carbonized and aromatized nature. From the Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), it is observed that there is alteration in functional groups with increase in temperature, and illustrated higher aromaticity. This showed that bio-chars have high potential to be used as solid fuel either for direct combustion or for thermal conversion processes in boilers, kilns and furnace. Further, from surface area and pH analysis of bio-chars, it is found that WS bio-chars have similar characteristics of adsorbents used for water purifications, retention of essential elements in soil and carbon sequestration.

Physio-mechanical & wear performance of banana fiber/walnut powder based epoxy composites

The present environmental condition indicates the immediate need for sustainable materials containing mainly natural elements for composite fabrication. Encouragement of natural fibers in composite materials can significantly reduce the greenhouse effect and the high cost of manufacturing synthetic fiber-based polymer composites. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the physio-mechanical properties of banana fiber (BF) fiber -based epoxy (EP) composites filled with walnut shell powder (WNP). Fabrication was carried out by mixing and cold pressing with fixed BF proportion and varying percentages of WNP (0%, 5%, 10%, 15 wt. %). The results obtained in the study suggest the mechanical properties of the BF/EP composite were enhanced with the addition of WNP as a filler. This is because the WNP filler occupies the spaces in the composite, which bridge the gaps between the banana fibers and the epoxy matrix; also, the inclusion of walnut powder in the BF/EP composites greatly enhanced their wear resistance. The microstructural properties of the composites were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Determination of the Effect of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (MgO-NP) on in Vitro Culture of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp)

This study was carried out to determine the effect of different doses of MgO nanoparticles (MgO-NP's) on in vitro regeneration of cowpea. MgO NPs used in the study were synthesized using walnut shell extract by green synthesis method. MgO nanoparticles with 35-40 nm size were used in this research. In the study, the effect of different doses of MgO NP applied to cowpea plant on all in vitro parameters was found to be significant. Considering the parameters examined, the best results in morphogenesis were 185 mg/L, 370 mg/L and 555 mg/L MgO-NPs applications, the highest shoot formation rate was obtained 82.50% with 555 mg/L(MgO-NPs) and 72.50% with 370 mg/L (MgO-NPs). The highest mean values of shoot number, shoot number per explant and shoot length were observed in the application of 370 mg/L MgO-NPs with 61.25, 17.50, and 2.075 (unit) respectively. The best root formation rate was obtained from control and 370 mg/L MgO application at a rate of 27.50%. The highest values were 6.75 (pieces) and 370 mg/L MgO-NPs in the number of roots per explant, 555 mg/L MgO-NPs with 10% in callus formation, and 1.575 (cm) and 370 mg/L MgO-NPs in root length. When all the examined parameters were evaluated, it was determined that the application of 370 mg/L MgO-NPs gave the best results in terms of in vitro parameters.

EFFECT OF CHARCOAL QUALITY ON TOXICITY OF HOOKAH TOBACCO

Анализ современного российского рынка табачной продукции свидетельствует о росте популярности смесей для кальяна. Особенностью данного продукта является специфика его потребления: нагрев с использованием натурального древесного или кокосового угля. Угарный газ – монооксид углерода в дыме кальяна появляется вследствие сгорания угля. Исследованы качественные характеристики угля для кальяна – влажность, продолжительность розжига и горения, динамика изменения температуры чаши и калауда в процессе работы кальянной системы – и его влияние на органолептические свойства кальянного дыма и содержание монооксида углерода в нем. В качестве объекта исследования были образцы угля для кальяна на основе скорлупы грецкого ореха (Украина), на основе скорлупы кокосового ореха (Индонезия), а также быстровозгорающийся древесный уголь, пропитанный селитрой (Польша). Установлено, что содержание монооксида углерода в аэрозоле при использовании угля из скорлупы грецкого ореха на 20% ниже, чем при использовании угля из скорлупы кокосового ореха, и в 10 раз ниже, чем при нагревании быстровозгорающимся древесным углем, пропитанным селитрой. Угли из скорлупы грецкого ореха и скорлупы кокоса имеют большую, чем быстровозгорающийся древесный уголь, продолжительность розжига, однако они характеризуются большей продолжительностью горения, меньше влияют на органолептическое восприятие курильщика и подходят для использования в любых кальянных системах (с калаудом и без него). Analysis of modern Russian market of tobacco products indicates that popularity of hookah tobacco is increasing. The main distinctive feature of this product is peculiarity of its consuming. It is heated by natural charcoal or coconut charcoal. Carbon monoxide in hookah aerosol appears due to burning process of utilized charcoal. Qualitative characteristics of charcoal – humidity, time of starting charcoal burning and time of burning, dynamics of temperature change of the bowl and kalaud during the hookah system are investigated. The effect of hookah charcoal on the organoleptic properties of hookah smoke and the carbon monoxide content in it has been determined. Samples hookah charcoal made of walnut shells (Ukraine), charcoal made of coconut shells (Indonesia), quick lighted charcoal made of wood charcoal and impregnated with niter (Poland) were used as the object of the study. It was found that the carbon monoxide content in the aerosol when using walnut shells charcoal is 20% lower than when using coconut shells charcoal, and 10 times lower than when using quick lighted charcoal. Despite the fact that charcoals from walnut shell and from coconut shell have a much longer time of starting burning than quick lighted charcoal, they are characterized by a longer burning, less affect the organoleptic perception of the smoker and are suitable for use in any hookah systems (with calaud and without it).