Extraction and characterization of cellulose microfibers from cornhusk for application as reinforcing agent in biocomposite

This study aims to extract and characterize cellulose microfibers from cornhusk, an agricultural by-product. The extracted fibers will then be used as a reinforcing agent in a biocomposite made of thermoplastic corn starch. The process of extracting cellulose microfibers involved two treatments: sequential alkali treatment (using sodium hydroxide at 120 °C for 120 min) and peroxide bleach treatment (using hydrogen peroxide at 90 °C for 60 min). Various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize the extracted fibers. The properties of the composite were examined through tensile strength tests, contact angle measurements, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The study found that cellulose microfibers were successfully extracted from cornhusks, with a diameter of 7 to 30 μm and a crystallinity of 65 %. The treated fibers showed gradual degradation between 150 °C and 350 °C, indicating a lower amount of non-cellulosic substances compared to untreated cornhusks. Adding 10 % of the microfibers to the thermoplastic starch composite increased the tensile stress at breaking and the Young's modulus, but decreased the contact angle of water droplets and the film's transparency.

Kinetics, thermodynamics, and thermal decomposition behavior of palm oil empty fruit bunch, coconut shell, bamboo, and cardboard pyrolysis: an integrated approach using Coats-Redfern method

This study presents the kinetics and thermodynamics of biomass pyrolysis. The kinetics of the pyrolysis process was estimated using ten kinetic models from three different mechanisms, namely chemical reaction, diffusion, and nucleation and growth. Results showed that each pyrolysis subdivision was described by a different reaction model, signifying the complex nature of the pyrolysis process. The average values of activation energy determined from the kinetic models for empty fruit bunch, coconut shell, bamboo, and cardboard are 10.2-64.6 kJ/mol, 18.7-186.2 kJ/mol, 8.0-70.8 kJ/mol, and 13.1-277.3 kJ/mol, respectively. The biomass pyrolysis is endothermic and non-spontaneous and would require external energy to initiate the degradation process. The findings are helpful in characterizing the thermal degradation of biomass in exploring its potential as a source of alternative solid fuel.

Microplastics identification in water by TGA-DSC Method: Maharloo Lake, Iran

Nowadays, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of coordination between the microplastic identification methods used by researchers. To advance our global understanding of microplastic contamination and address the knowledge gaps, we require acceptable or similar identification methods or instruments designed to support the quantitative characterization of the microplastics data. In the current study, we focused on the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method which is usually used experimentally by other researchers, while we tried to look at this method in a real aquatic environment, Maharloo Lake and its Rivers. A number of 22 sites were chosen for sampling microplastics from water. The mean and median of total organic matter percentage for rivers samples (mean = 88%;median = 88%) was similar to the Maharloo lake (mean = 88.33%; median = 89%), suggesting the existence of a robust potential sink. The differentiation of the organic matter part into labile (e.g., carbon aliphatic and polysaccharides), recalcitrant (e.g., aromatic compounds and most plastics), and refractory fractions was implemented and the results indicated that labile organic matter was dominant in both the lake and the rivers, while recalcitrant and refractory fractions were lower. The river's average labile and refractory fractions were similar to the lake. Although the overall results of the study show combining TGA techniques with other analytical procedures can improve the technical quality of polymers, interpreting the complex information of those measurements requires a high level of expertise and the technology is still maturing.

Sol-gel produced Zn2V2O7 phosphors' improved luminous properties: The role of thermal treatment

Zn₂V₂O₇ phosphor was made using a sol-gel technique and then annealed at temperatures ranging from 700 to 850 °C. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that Zn₂V₂O₇ exhibits a single monoclinic phase. The width at half-maximum of the (022) XRD peak shrank overall resulting in improved crystallinity of the Zn₂V₂O₇ phosphors with higher annealing temperatures. Because of the good crystallinity of Zn₂V₂O₇, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates that grain size increases as the annealing temperature rises. When the temperature was raised from 35 °C to 500 °C, TGA findings revealed a total weight loss of approximately 65%. The photoluminescence emission spectra of annealed Zn₂V₂O₇ powders revealed a wide green-yellowish emission in the range of 400 nm-800 nm. As the annealing temperature was raised, the crystallinity improved, resulting in an increase in PL intensity. The peak of the PL emission shifts from green to yellow emission.

Kinetic study and pyrolysis characteristics of algal and lignocellulosic biomasses

A comparative kinetic study on the pyrolysis of six algal and lignocellulosic biomasses was performed and six heating rates were employed to obtain the kinetic equations and analyze the compensation effect. Due to complexity, the whole pyrolysis process of algal biomass was divided into two reaction zones in which the analysis was carried out individually. The activation energies were first evaluated within the conversion range of 0.05 to 0.95, which were 125-147 kJ/mol and 113-138 kJ/mol for lignocellulosic biomass and zone-1 of algal biomass, respectively. Regression analysis was also conducted to determine the appropriate kinetic model. Moreover, Z(α) master plots suggested that the nucleation model was dominant at lower and higher temperatures for lignocellulosic biomass. Besides, the pre-exponential factor was calculated and a compensation effect between activation energies and pre-exponential factors was completely observed in zone-2 of algal biomass and partially seen in zone-1 of algal biomass and lignocellulosic biomass.

Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis to discern synergy during the co-pyrolysis of microalgae and swine manure digestate

BACKGROUND

Co-pyrolysis of wastes with other feedstock can synergistically improve the rate of biomass decomposition and also help to resolve the issues related to limited availability feedstock. In this regards, synergistic interaction between feedstock during co-pyrolysis is an important aspect of research. As the constituents of aquatic and lignocellulosic biomass are different, and the decomposition pattern of aquatic biomass is dissimilar when compared to lignocellulosic biomass, it is important to understand whether these two biomasses interact during co-pyrolysis.

RESULTS

Synergism in the co-pyrolysis of microalgae (MA), swine manure digestate (SWD), and their blends (MA/SWD) (w/w %), 2.5/7.5 (MD-1), 5/5 (MD-2), and 7.5/2.5 (MD-3), was evaluated based on decomposition behavior, gas yields, extent of thermal degradation, and kinetics. Extractives and volatiles in biomass enhanced the reaction kinetics and products yields, as indicated by the reduction in apparent activation energy of the blends, accompanied by an increase in H2, total gas yield, and extent in degradation. Thermogravimetric data, via isoconversional methods, were interpreted to achieve the apparent activation energies for the thermal degradation of the MA, SWD, and their blends. The best fit reaction models were identified using compensation effect and generalized master plots methods. Semi-quantitative method was used to quantify the evolved gas species. H2, CO, and CO2 were noted to be the dominant gases, implying that tar cracking and reforming reactions were predominant.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, synergy was noticed with respect to the pyrolysis of SWD biomass to gas products in the presence of MA biomass, whereas synergy was witnessed up to 50 w/w % MA in view of kinetic parameters as evaluation criteria.

Chemical interaction between sea-salt and tellurium, between 300 and 1180 K

As an emergency action during the Fukushima accident, seawater was used to maintain cooling. To evaluate the effect of the salt on fission-products, sodium chloride, and tellurium were heated together using different ratios in different atmospheres (inert or oxidizing) using thermogravimetric analysis. The experiment under inert conditions showed no indication of interaction. However, under oxidizing conditions an interaction for all samples was observed that prevented an otherwise observed mass increase of the tellurium reference. The change in the appearance of the samples at increasing temperatures was studied by heating them in a furnace.

Agronomic assessment of pyrolysed food waste digestate for sandy soil management

The digestate (DFW) of an industrial food waste treatment plant was pyrolysed for production of biochar for its direct application as bio-fertilizer or soil enhancer. Nutrient dynamics and agronomic viability of the pyrolysed food waste digestate (PyD) produced at different temperatures were evaluated using germination index (GI), water retention/availability and mineral sorption as indicators when applied on arid soil. The pyrolysis was found to enrich P, K and other micronutrients in the biochar at an average enrichment factor of 0.87. All PyD produced at different temperatures indicated significantly low phytotoxicity with GI range of 106-168% and an average water retention capacity of 40.2%. Differential thermogravimetric (DTG) thermographs delineated the stability of the food waste digestate pyrolysed at 500 °C (PyD500) against the degradation of the digestate food waste despite the latter poor nutrient sorption potential. Plant available water in soil is 40% when treated with 100 g of digestate per kg soil, whereas PyD500 treated soil indicated minimal effect on plant available water, even with high application rates. However, the positive effects of PyD on GI and the observed enrichment in plant macro and micronutrients suggest potential agronomic benefits for PyD use, in addition to the benefits from energy production from DFW during the pyrolysis process.

Synthetic aspects, spectral, thermal studies and antimicrobial screening on bis(N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato-S,S')antimony(III) complexes with oxo or thio donor ligands

The bis(N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato-S,S')antimony(III) complexes have been obtained by the reaction of chloro bis(N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato-S,S')antimony(III) with corresponding oxo or thio donor ligands such as sodium benzoate 1, sodium thioglycolate 2, phenol 3, sodium 1-propanethiolate 4, potassium thioacetate 5, sodium salicylate 6, ethane-1,2-dithiolate 7 and disodium oxalate 8. These complexes have been characterized by the physicochemical [melting point, molecular weight determination and elemental analysis (C, H, N, S and Sb)], spectral [UV-Visible, FT-IR, far IR, NMR (1H and 13C)], thermogravimetric (TG & DTA) analysis, ESI-Mass and powder X-ray diffraction studies. Thermogravimetric analysis of the complexes confirmed the final decomposition product as highly pure antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) and powder X-ray diffraction studies show that the complexes are in lower symmetry with monoclinic crystal lattice and nano-ranged particle size (11.51-20.82 nm). The complexes have also been screened against some bacterial and fungal strains for their antibacterial and antifungal activities and compared with standard drugs. These show that the complexes have greater activities against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi than the activities of standard drugs.

Production of a transparent lavender flavour nanocapsule aqueous solution and pyrolysis characteristics of flavour nanocapsule

Flavour plays an important role and has been widely used in many products. Usually, the components of flavour are volatile and the sensory perception can be changed as a result of volatilization, heating, oxidation and chemical interactions. Encapsulation can prevent the loss of volatile aromatic ingredients, provide protection and enhance the stability of the core materials. This work concentrated on production of a transparent lavender flavour nanocapsule aqueous solution. The results showed that a transparent lavender flavour microcapsule aqueous solution can be produced using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as wall material. The combination and interaction of flavour and wall materials were investigated by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetic parameters of the flavour nanocapsule were determined. During thermal degradation of blank HP-β-CD and flavour-HP-β-CD inclusion complex, three main stages can be distinguished. Due to the vaporization of lavender flavour encapsulated in HP-β-CD, the thermogravimetric (TG) curve of blank HP-β-CD shows a leveling-off from room temperature to 269 °C, while the TG curve of flavour-HP-β-CD inclusion complex is downward sloping in this temperature range. The kinetic parameters are helpful in understanding the mechanism of molecular recognition between hosts and guests.

Study of production and pyrolysis characteristics of sweet orange flavor-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex

Flavor plays an important role and has been widely used in foods. Encapsulation can prevent the loss of volatile aromatic ingredients, provide protection and enhance the stability of the flavor. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are helpful in understanding the mechanism of molecular recognition between hosts and guests. This work focused on the study of production of a sweet orange flavor-β-cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complex, and investigated the combination of flavor and β-CD by thermogravimetric analysis. Pyrolysis characteristics, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the flavor-β-CD inclusion complex were determined. The results showed that the flavor-β-CD inclusion complexes can form large aggregates in water. During thermal degradation of blank β-CD and flavor-β-CD inclusion complex, three main stages can be distinguished. The thermogravimetric (TG) curve of blank β-CD shows a leveling-off from room temperature to 250°C, while the TG curve of flavor-β-CD inclusion complex is downward sloping in this temperature range.

Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition characteristics of low-lipid microalgae

The thermal decomposition behavior of two microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP) and Spirulina platensis (SP), were investigated on a thermogravimetric analyzer under non-isothermal conditions. Iso-conversional Vyazovkin approach was used to calculate the kinetic parameters, and the universal integral method was applied to evaluate the most probable mechanisms for thermal degradation of the two feedstocks. The differential equations deduced from the models were compared with experimental data. For the range of conversion fraction investigated (20-80%), the thermal decomposition process of CP could be described by the reaction order model (F3), which can be calculated by the integral equation of G(α) = [(1 - α)(-2) - 1]/2. And the apparent activation energy was in the range of 58.85-114.5 kJ/mol. As for SP, it can be described by the reaction order model (F2), which can be calculated by the integral equation of G(α) = (1 - α)(-1) - 1, and the range of apparent activation energy was 74.35-140.1 kJ/mol.