Characterization of an Arundo donax-based composite: A solution to improve indoor comfort

Mycelium-based bio-composites (MBCs) represent a sustainable and innovative material with high potential for contemporary applications, particularly in the field of modern interior design. This research investigates the fabrication of MBCs for modern interior materials using agro-industrial wastes (bamboo sawdust and corn pericarp) and different fungal species. The study focuses on determining physical properties, including moisture content, shrinkage, density, water absorption, volumetric swelling, thermal degradation, and mechanical properties (bending, compression, impact, and tensile strength). The results indicate variations in moisture content and shrinkage based on fungal species and substrate types, with bamboo sawdust exhibiting lower shrinkage. The obtained density values range from 212.31 to 282.09 kg/m3, comparable to traditional materials, suggesting MBCs potential in diverse fields, especially as modern interior elements. Water absorption and volumetric swelling demonstrate the influence of substrate and fungal species, although they do not significantly impact the characteristics of interior decoration materials. Thermal degradation analysis aligns with established patterns, showcasing the suitability of MBCs for various applications. Scanning electron microscope observations reveal the morphological features of MBCs, emphasizing the role of fungal mycelia in binding substrate particles. Mechanical properties exhibit variations in bending, compression, impact, and tensile strength, with MBCs demonstrating compatibility with traditional materials used in interior elements. Those produced from L. sajor-caju and G. fornicatum show especially promising characteristics in this context. Particularly noteworthy are their superior compression and impact strength, surpassing values observed in certain synthetic foams multiple times. Moreover, this study reveals the biodegradability of MBCs, reaching standards for environmentally friendly materials. A comprehensive comparison with traditional materials further supports the potential of MBCs in sustainable material. Challenges in standardization, production scalability, and market adoption are identified, emphasizing the need for ongoing research, material engineering advancements, and biotechnological innovations. These efforts aim to enhance MBC properties, promoting sustainability in modern interior applications, while also facilitating their expansion into mass production within the innovative construction materials market.

Giant cane (Arundo donax L.) can substitute traditional energy crops in producing energy by anaerobic digestion, reducing surface area and costs: A full-scale approach

Along the U.S.‐Mexico border, an aggressive non‐native grass, giant cane (Arundo donax), grows in dense, nearly impenetrable stands along hundreds of kilometers of the Rio Grande/Bravo (RGB). Between 2008 and 2018, a diverse, multisector binational‐team repeatedly treated giant cane with prescribed fire and herbicide along 90 km of this binational river to restore aquatic and riparian habitat and native plant community composition. The large geographic scale, binational management response, treatment methods used, and development of a long‐term monitoring program to quantify treatment impacts on the RGB's riparian plant community underscore the unique aspects of this effort. Results of this decade‐long management experiment indicate that (i) the combination of a primary treatment of giant cane (using prescribed fire followed 4–6 weeks later by herbicide treatment of regrowth) and a secondary treatment (spot treatment of regrowth one or more years following primary treatment) was effective in reducing the extent and distribution of giant cane at relatively low cost, (ii) giant cane re‐establishment following treatment is often not rapid, nor dramatic; and (iii) as revealed by analysis of riparian vegetation monitoring data, eradication of dense stands of giant cane have fostered significant and long‐term reduction in giant cane cover and recovery of native woody riparian plant taxa. Important caveats to the long‐term viability of managing giant cane hinge on better understanding the consequences of herbicide use, securing funding to cover the cost of re‐treatment, and continuing river flow management focused on promoting the recovery of native riparian obligate plants over non‐natives.

New energy crop giant cane (Arundo donax L.) can substitute traditional energy crops increasing biogas yield and reducing costs

This study aimed at determining the chemical composition of bio-oil from giant cane (Arundo donax L.), as well as its performance as a wood preservative. The performance was determined through water absorption, tangential swelling, and resistance to fungi and termites. Bio-oil was obtained by pyrolysis at 450 to 525 ºC. The yield of liquid, char, and gas was determined to be 45, 30, and 25%, respectively. The most abundant chemical compounds found in the bio-oil were acids, ketones, furans, benzenes, phenols, sugars, and guaiacols. Scots pine sapwood was impregnated with the obtained bio-oil at concentrations of 10 and 20%. Additionally, treated samples were impregnated with epoxidized linseed oil to study its effect on bio-oil leachability. The retention of the giant cane bio-oil was in the range of 50 to 100 kg m-3. Leached samples were exposed to white- and brown-rot fungi, according to European standard EN 113. Wood impregnated with only cane oil demonstrated a durability that classifies the treatment as very effective (mass loss less than 3%). Epoxidized linseed oil treatment significantly reduced water absorption of the treated samples with bio-oil and further improved the durability. A termite test showed that bio-oil was also effective against Reticulitermes flavipes.

Use of biomass to supplement the nation's energy needs for ethanol production and green fuel for power plants has created a demand for growing reliable feedstocks. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), and giant cane (Arundo donax L.) are possible biofuel crops because they produce large amounts of biomass over a wide range of growing conditions, including marginal and reclaimed land. West Virginia's climate and large acreage of available reclaimed mine land provide a land base to generate high amounts of biomass for a biofuel industry. The purpose of this study was to determine the yield of three biomass crops on reclaimed mined land in central West Virginia. A 25-year-old reclaimed site near Alton, WV was prepared using herbicides to eliminate all existing cool-season vegetation on a 5-ha area. Twenty-three plots of 0.4-ha in size were established. Mine soil samples showed an average pH of 7.5 and adequate supplies of plant nutrients. Two switchgrass varieties (Kanlow and BoMaster) were randomly assigned to 10 plots (five replications) and seeds were drilled into the killed sod at a rate of 11 kg ha -1 . Two types of miscanthus (sterile public and private varieties) were randomly assigned to 10 plots and planted with seedling plugs on 0.8-m centers. Giant cane was assigned to three plots and rhizomes were planted on 1.5-m centers. Yield measurements were taken in September the second and third years after planting. Yields for Kanlow switchgrass varied from an average of 4,000 kg ha -1 in 2011 to 4,900 kg ha -1 in 2012. BoMaster switchgrass was lower at 2,750 kg ha -1 in 2011 and 3,981 kg ha -1 in 2012. The public variety of miscanthus showed yields 7,500 kg ha -1 in 2011, but decreased to an average of 4,900 kg ha -1 in 2012. The private miscanthus variety was much greater at 21,880 kg ha -1 in 2011 and 15,500 kg ha -1 in 2012. Giant cane yields were low with an average yield of 515 kg ha -1 in 2012. Survival and growth of giant cane was hindered by weed competition and poor establishment. Target yields for reclaimed lands, as established by the WV Department of Environmental Protection of 5,000 kg ha -1 for switchgrass and 15,000 kg ha -1 for miscanthus were not attained with switchgrass and the public variety of miscanthus, but was achieved with the private variety of miscanthus. More time may be needed for these yield goals to be achieved as stands continue to develop over time.

This communication reports the results of a pilot study on the sound absorption characteristics of chicken feathers (CFs). Recently, demands for natural and sustainable materials have been extensively studied for acoustical purposes. CF has long been left wasted, however, they can be used for sound-absorbing purposes to improve acoustical environments as a sustainable and green acoustical material. In order to clarify their feasibility, samples of CF absorbers of various densities and thicknesses were prepared, and their sound absorption coefficients were measured by the standard impedance tube method. The measured results were also compared with those of conventional glass wools of the same densities and thicknesses. The results show that CFs have potentially good sound-absorption performance, which is similar to typical fibrous materials: increasing with frequency. Results of direct comparison with glass wool demonstrate that the absorption coefficients of CFs are comparable and, at some frequencies, somewhat higher than conventional glass wools in some cases. Additionally, the first step for searching a prediction method for the sound absorption performance of CFs, their flow resistivity was measured and a Delany–Bazley–Miki model was examined. However, the resultant flow resistivity was unexpectedly low, and the model gave only a much lower value than that measured. The reason for the discrepancies is the subject of a future study.

Effects of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions on compressive and shear bond strengths of FA–GBFS geopolymer

Accumulation of unmanaged agroindustrial solid wastes especially in developing countries has resulted in an increased environmental concern. Recycling of such wastes as a sustainable construction material appears to be a viable solution not only to the pollution problem but also an economical option to design green buildings. This paper studies the application of several agroindustrial wastes in brick manufacturing, which include cocoa shell, sawdust, rice husk and sugarcane. First, the mineralogical and chemical composition of the wastes and clayey soil were determined. Next, bricks were fabricated with different quantities of waste (5%, 10% and 20%). The effect of adding these wastes on the technological behavior of the brick was assessed by compressive strength, flexural strength and durability tests. Based on the results obtained, the optimum amounts of agroindustrial waste to obtain bricks were mixing 10% of cocoa shell and 90% of clayey soil. These percentages produced bricks whose mechanical properties were suitable for use as secondary raw materials in the brick production.

A feasible re-use of an agro-industrial by-product: Hazelnut shells as high-mass bio-aggregate in boards for indoor applications

Effects of metakaolin and sodium silicate solution on workability and compressive strength of sustainable Geopolymer mortar

Giant cane (Arundo donax) is a monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Poaceae, whose stems are used in handicrafts and paper industry (Dudley, 2000). Blight of leaf sheaths and stem lesions with a light brown coloured center, surrounded by a darker brown line were observed on A. donax plants in different regions of the Mazandaran province (Iran). Fragments form symptomatic tissues were washed, surface-disinfected with 70% ethanol and a 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal cultures displayed a i white floccose mycelium that turned often violet with age. A violet pigment that darkened with age was released in the medium. Microconidia were abundant, oval or globose shaped whereas a limited number of 3-5 septate macroconidia was produced. Micro- and macroconidia were ca. 5-10×1 and 15-30×2-3 μm in diameter, respectively. Based on morphological features, the disease agent was identified as Fusarium globosum (Leslie and Summerell, 2006), a result that was confirmed by amplifying by PCR the translation elongation factor (TEF) region (Jurado et al., 2010) and sequencing the obtained product (a 600 bp amplicon). This sequence was then compared with related sequences from GenBank. BLAST analysis of a 600 bp fragment showed 100% similarity with Fusarium globosum (accession No. KJ746615). Pathogenicity tests were conducted by placing mycelial plugs taken from the margins of 3-day-old colonies on the stem of healthy plants. The same symptoms appeared one week after inoculation. Fusarium globosum was previously reported on corn, wheat and barley in Iran (Darvishnia et al., 2005). This is the first report of Giant cane Fusarium sheath blight in Iran.

Giant cane (Arundo donax L.) for biogas production: The effect of two ensilage methods on biomass characteristics and biogas potential

Arundo donax L. (giant cane) is a suitable feedstock for sugar production because of its high biomass yield and low agronomic input requirement. Eight A. donax clones were studied at full field scale for sugars production. 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate ‐ [C 2 C 1 im][OAc] ‐ and enzymatic treatments were used to obtain the sugars. Highest glucose yields were obtained for pretreatment performed at 160 °C for 3 hours, with glucan conversion yields from 40.8 % to 76.2 % for most productive A. donax clones (AD10 and AD 20). Differences in cell wall structure measured by micropore surface area (pores of 0.3 ‐ 1.5 nm) explained both ionic liquids and enzymatic performances of clones. Structural differences were due to the guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units that determined different lignin cross‐linking affecting cell wall microporosity and so enzyme accessibility. Total glucose and xylose yields (11 Mg Ha −1 and 4.84 Mg Ha −1 , clone AD20), were impressive and about 3.5 to 4.5 times more than those obtainable from switchgrass and corn stover.

Use of crushed clay brick and pumice aggregates in lightweight geopolymer concrete