Current Development and Future Perspective on Natural Jute Fibers and Their Biocomposites

A Review Delving into the Factors Influencing Mycelium-Based Green Composites (MBCs) Production and Their Properties for Long-Term Sustainability Targets

Mycelium-based green composites (MBCs) represent an eco-friendly material innovation with vast potential across diverse applications. This paper provides a thorough review of the factors influencing the production and properties of MBCs, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term sustainability goals. It delves into critical aspects such as fungal species selection, substrate type selection, substrate preparation, optimal conditions, dehydrating methods, post-processing techniques, mold design, sterilization processes, cost comparison, key recommendations, and other necessary factors. Regarding fungal species selection, the paper highlights the significance of considering factors like mycelium species, decay type, hyphal network systems, growth rate, and bonding properties in ensuring the safety and suitability of MBCs fabrication. Substrate type selection is discussed, emphasizing the importance of chemical characteristics such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and the C: N ratio in determining mycelium growth and MBC properties. Substrate preparation methods, optimal growth conditions, and post-processing techniques are thoroughly examined, along with their impacts on MBCs quality and performance. Moreover, the paper discusses the importance of designing molds and implementing effective sterilization processes to ensure clean environments for mycelium growth. It also evaluates the costs associated with MBCs production compared to traditional materials, highlighting potential cost savings and economic advantages. Additionally, the paper provides key recommendations and precautions for improving MBC properties, including addressing fungal strain degeneration, encouraging research collaboration, establishing biosecurity protocols, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing storage conditions, implementing waste management practices, conducting life cycle assessments, and suggesting parameters for desirable MBC properties. Overall, this review offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing MBCs production and provides guidance for optimizing processes to achieve sustainable, high-quality composites for diverse applications.

Feasibility study of faecal sludge treatment by Geotube and jute tube-based technologies

The decentralized standalone treatment of faecal sludge is a generally cumbersome, energy-intensive, and expensive process. Particle size enlargement, dewatering, and disinfection are the crucial unit operations that contribute to the major portion of the operational expenditure. Therefore, the present study took up the task to investigate and yield a natural alternative to each of the above-delineated unit operations. Crushed seed powders of Moringa, Guilandina bonduc, Nirmali, tamarind, soap nut, nutmeg, jackfruit, and custard apple were experimented as natural coagulants, while a double-stitched cow dung-lined jute tube was utilized as the media for solid-liquid separation. Finally, the powder of Neem and custard apple seed and leaf were considered herbal disinfectants for the separated liquid and solid fractions, respectively. The findings of the physicochemical and biological analyses of the above unit operations were compared with a conventional polymer-based Geotube-driven treatment scheme. The natural alternatives registered some promising outcomes. However, the combined treatment efficiency of 79.32% (mean value of TS, TSS, TDS, COD, and BOD percentage removal) for pollutant removal and disinfection could not exceed the value of 97.98% offered by the conventional method. Further, the financial comparison for processing a 10 KL batch of FS indicates that the conventional scheme is considerably cheaper (USD 7.95) than the herbal alternate (USD 22.1). Therefore, though the present findings depict promising alternatives for sustainable and eco-friendly faecal sludge treatment, the authors advocate conducting further research to address the existing challenges to facilitate their seamless implementation on a field-scale level.

Optimization of the novel jute retting process to enhance the fiber quality for textile applications

This study introduces an innovative chemical retting approach, systematically optimized via Grey relational analysis, to achieve jute fibers that exhibit desirable characteristics of softness, high tensile strength, and suitability for spinning, with a particular focus on their application in the apparel industry. In this study, the effect of alkali treatment (alkali concentration, temperature and duration of retting) on jute fiber's chemical composition and mechanical characteristics was investigated. Jute fibers were treated at three concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 15 %) of alkali, at three different temperature (30 °C, 60 °C, & 90 °C) and for three different retting duration (12 h, 24 h, & 36 h). The surface morphology and crystallinity of fibers were analyzed using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fiber linear density and mechanical characteristics were also tested. The multi-response optimization of all the factors and the responses was investigated using the Grey relational analysis. The results showed that the fiber surface morphology and crystallinity increase with an increase in alkali concentration, retting time, and temperature. Chemical retting treatment also improved the fiber linear density and tensile strength. The finest fibers which were obtained in this research had a linear density of 2.18 Tex with a tenacity of 53.02 cN/tex and elongation of 4.54 %. The spinnable jute fibers were achieved after this treatment with excellent characteristics.

Plant Fibers as Composite Reinforcements for Biomedical Applications

Plant fibers possess high strength, high fracture toughness and elasticity, and have proven useful because of their diversity, versatility, renewability, and sustainability. For biomedical applications, these natural fibers have been used as reinforcement for biocomposites to infer these hybrid biomaterials mechanical characteristics, such as stiffness, strength, and durability. The reinforced hybrid composites have been tested in structural and semi-structural biodevices for potential applications in orthopedics, prosthesis, tissue engineering, and wound dressings. This review introduces plant fibers, their properties and factors impacting them, in addition to their applications. Then, it discusses different methodologies used to prepare hybrid composites based on these widespread, renewable fibers and the unique properties that the obtained biomaterials possess. It also examines several examples of hybrid composites and their biomedical applications. Finally, the findings are summed up and some thoughts for future developments are provided. Overall, the focus of the present review lies in analyzing the design, requirements, and performance, and future developments of hybrid composites based on plant fibers.