Arecanut Husk Research Articles

Waste biomass-based graphene oxide decorated with ternary metal oxide (MnO-NiO-ZnO) composite for adsorption of methylene blue dye

In this study, a novel approach for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye is effectively illustrated by using biomass based composite adsorbent. The investigation employed areca nut husk (AH) to produce graphene oxide (GO) by a single step calcination method. Thereafter, AH-GO was incorporated by using ternary metal oxide (TMO) via hydrothermal treatment. The developed AH-GO@MnO-NiO-ZnO composite was characterized by various analytical techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, BET surface area and Raman spectroscopy which exhibited promising properties for dye adsorption. To study the adsorption efficiency of prepared composite, optimization experiments were performed for adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration and contact time. The optimized parameters during adsorption phenomenon were found to be 0.5g/L of dose, 20mg/L of initial concentration and 180min of time exhibiting removal efficacy of 93.05 ± 0.93%. Moreover, adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were analysed to explore the adsorption behaviour of AH-GO@MnO-NiO-ZnO towards MB dye. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies followed Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order (PSO) model respectively. AH-GO@MnO-NiO-ZnO has demonstrated a maximum adsorption capability of 127.06mg/g. These findings collectively underscore the potential of AH-based adsorbent as a viable, inexpensive, and environment friendly for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with MB dye.

Areca nut husk nanoadditive for compression ignition engine: characterisation, energy–exergy–exergoeconomic, and sustainability analyses

Areca nut husk nanoadditive for compression ignition engine: characterisation, energy–exergy–exergoeconomic, and sustainability analyses

Sustainable production of in-situ activated carbon from arecanut husk and their supercapacitor applications

A facile and sustainable method is adopted for the synthesis of activated carbon from arecanut husk biomass. The inherent potassium enrichment in arecanut husk is exploited for an in-situ activation process. The activated samples exhibited an optimal porosity with abundant meso/micro pores and channels making them a promising candidate for supercapacitor applications with a specific capacitance value as high as 217 Fg−1 as calculated from the CV curves. The values for non activated and KOH activated carbon samples derived from arecanut husk were only 60 and 80 % of this value respectively. A fully functional symmetric supercapacitor prototype was also fabricated which exhibited a capacitance value of 46.2 Fg−1 with an energy density of 6.1 Whkg−1 at a power density of 270 Wkg−1.

Experimental studies, characterization, and optimization of organic nonconsumable biomass wastes for utilization in energy storage applications

ABSTRACT In this work, two organic nonconsumable biomass municipal wastes, coconut peduncle (CP) and areca nut husk (ANH), were selected as per novelty, and the results were experimentally investigated and optimized for better suitability as per energy storage applications. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of both the biomasses shows the presence of oxygen functional groups and aromatic compounds, such as lignin which are the important parameters for energy storage. CP contains more lignin content than ANH by 2.21% as investigated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) protocol. Proximate analysis of the two biomasses revealed that CP has more volatile matter and a lower ash content than does ANH, indicating better pore development for energy storage. Thermogravimetric/differential thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) curve reveals that both the biomasses are thermally stable nearly at 500°C above which slow pyrolysis can be performed. Two-step KOH activation improved the yield of the biochar at 1:4 (w/v) biochar to KOH ratio through direct impregnation. The adsorption−desorption isotherm shows that activated coconut peduncle biochar at 1:4 (ACPB4) has a better surface area of 494.076 m2/g and microporosity than activated areca nut husk biochar at 1:4 (AANHB4) making CP a suitable porous material for energy storage.

Thermocatalytic Pyrolysis of Waste Areca Nut into Renewable Fuel and Value-Added Chemicals.

Pyrolytic oil is currently in its early stages of production and distribution but has the potential to grow into a significant renewable energy source. It may be processed into a variety of useful substances, including chemicals, and used for heating, transportation, and energy production. The present investigation involves the production and characterization of pyrolytic oil from areca nut husk (ANH), with and without ZSM-5. The pyrolysis experiment was conducted in a semibatch tubular reactor at 600 °C and a heating rate of 80 °C min-1 using ZSM-5 at 20 wt %. The pyrolytic oil was examined via elemental analysis, viscosity, density, moisture content, GC-MS, FTIR, higher heating value (HHV), and ash content. The analysis of kinetics verified that the activation energy rises in proportion to the conversion rate. Additionally, employing ZSM-5 in catalytic pyrolysis at 20 wt % boosted the yield of pyrolytic oil by 11% compared to thermal pyrolysis. Employing ZSM-5 at 20 wt % resulted in a decrease in viscosity, oxygen content, and density by approximately 43.40 cSt, 15.20%, and 168 MJ kg-1, respectively. Moreover, it led to an increase in higher heating value (HHV) and carbon content by 11.71 MJ kg1- and 14.06%, respectively. An FTIR study of pyrolytic oil revealed the occurrence of hydrocarbons, aromatics, phenols, alcohols, and oxygenated chemicals. Moreover, GC-MS analysis indicated a significant increase in hydrocarbons (10.31%) and a decrease in phenols (2.36%), acids (6.38%), and oxygenated compounds with the introduction of the catalyst. Consequently, it can be inferred that utilizing ZSM-5 at 20 wt % during the pyrolysis of ANH aids in enhancing both the yield and characteristics of the resulting pyrolysis oil.

A Study on the utilization of areca nut husk fiber as a natural fibre reinforcement in composite applications: A systematic literature review

This paper presents a systematic literature review of published research on the use of areca nut bark fibres as a reinforcing material in polymer composites. A total of 22 research articles published in Scopus-indexed journals were identified and analysed in depth. In addition, this article presents current issues related to areca nut husk fibre (ANHF) as a reinforcement in composites using the VOSviewer tool. In this article, the author explains the processing stages of ANHF before it is used as a reinforcement in composites. The chemical treatments carried out are also summarised in this article. Not all types of resins available on the market have been used as matrix in the manufacture of areca nut shell fibre composites. The use of additives derived from natural materials has also been found to be effective in improving the quality of ANHF composites. This article also highlights the need for further research to improve the quality of areca nut husk fibre composites and discusses the unanswered aspects of the published research.

Study of the effective fraction of areca nut husk fibre composites based on mechanical properties

Areca nut husk fibers have the potential to be used as reinforcement in polymer composites as a substitute for synthetic fibres. In the manufacture of fibre composites, one of the important factors in determining the strength is the matrix to fibre ratio. This study aims to determine the effective ratio or fraction between areca nut husk fibre and orthophthalic polyester resin. Before using areca nut husk fibre, it was chemically treated so that only cellulose remained in the fibre. The areca nut husk fibre was processed into sheets. The composite was manufactured using the hand lay-up technique. Tensile and flexural tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties. Based on the results of the tests conducted, there are differences in the mechanical properties of the composites. The tensile test results show that the 40% fibre fraction has the highest tensile strength and modulus values. On the other hand, in the flexure tests, the highest tensile strength and modulus values are found in the 30% fibre fraction.

Thermoplastic-polymer matrix composite of banana/betel nut husk fiber reinforcement: Physico-mechanical properties evaluation

Abstract Reinforced composite made of polypropylene combining banana and betel nut husk fiber (BBF) was treated with 10% NaOH (w/w). The fiber percentages of 40%, 50%, and 60% were used using the compression molding process. Properties such as tensile, bending, impact, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water absorption were assessed as composite reinforcements. The composites with 50% BBF reinforcement performed better than composites with different fiber compositions. While 40% BBF-reinforced showed superior results in tensile, bending, and water absorption tests, the impact and TGA analyses provided comparatively lower results. The tensile strength (36 MPa), bending strength (78 MPa), energy absorption (2.4 Nm), thermal resistance (300–583°), and the maximum level of characteristics were attained. This work demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing waste banana stems and betel nut husks for interior decoration, furniture, and automobile bodies in fiber-reinforced hybrid composites, replacing expensive and environmentally hazardous artificial materials due to their mechanical capabilities.

Greener Approach for Synthesis of δ-MnO2 Nanoparticles: Access to Pharmaceutically Important Pyrimidines and their Antimicrobial Activity Studies.

A sustainable approach for pharmaceutically important pyrimidine derivatives is achieved by using biogenically produced single-phase δ-MnO2 NPs under external ligand-free conditions. The phytochemicals that comprise the extract of Areca Nut Husk (ANH) have been discovered to serve as reducing agents. The role of phytochemicals is not only to aid in the reduction of Mn(VII) into Mn(IV), but they also have an important role in stabilizing the catalyst. The establishment of δ-MnO2 NPs was confirmed inveterate by FE-SEM, p-XRD, ICP-OES (Mn content = 43.17% w/w), EDX, and with an active Mn content of 43.17% w/w. A series of pyrimidine derivatives were prepared in good yields using a one-pot multicomponent synthesis approach under atmospheric conditions. In addition, hot filtration tests, control experiments, gram-scale synthesis, and mechanistic investigations were demonstrated. Additionally, antimicrobial activity studies of δ-MnO2 NPs and pyrimidine derivatives against the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli, growth curve and minimum inhibitory concentration were studied.

Fe-Zn bimetallic oxide functionalized biochar for enhanced adsorption of enrofloxacin in water

This study employed an iron/zinc bimetallic oxide co-precipitation method to prepare magnetic areca nut husk biochar under nitrogen conditions at 650 °C and investigated its adsorption performance towards enrofloxacin (ENR). Characterization analysis indicates that the specific surface area (1475.35 m2·g−1) and total pore volume (0.71 cm3·g−1) of areca nut husk biochar modified by iron/zinc bimetallic oxide (ZFBC) are significantly greater than those of unmodified areca nut husk biochar (BC). Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that ZFBC displayed strong removal capabilities for ENR over a broad pH range (3−11), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 198.13 mg·g−1 at 303 K and pH=9, which is nine times higher than BC. In the presence of various competing ions within the concentration range of 0–100 mmol·L−1, the removal efficiency of ENR exceeded 80%. In addition, in adsorption experiments with pig wastewater synthesized in different matrices, ZFBC exhibited an adsorption capacity for ENR (at a concentration of 100 mg·g−1) exceeding 89 mg·g−1. Adsorption behavior conformed to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model. In addition, the change in enthalpy (ΔH) of the adsorption was 43.313 kJ·mol−1, indicating primarily physical adsorption. The adsorption mechanisms of ENR on ZFBC encompassed pore filling, π-π conjugation, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and functional group complexation. This study demonstrates the potential of areca nut husk as a promising biochar source for the removal of ENR.

Microporous nitrogen-rich biomass derived anode catalyst in clay membrane MFC for kitchen wastewater treatment

ABSTRACT Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have emerged as a sustainable wastewater treatment technique that offers simultaneous energy generation; however, the high cost of electrodes and their reduced catalytic activity have hindered their widespread adoption. To overcome this, an activated carbon synthesised from Areca nut husk was coated on different anodes viz. Carbon cloth and Stainless Steel (SS) mesh. Activated carbon was found to be highly porous with a carbon content of 85.39%, and a surface area of 767.98 m2/g, and was found to be amorphous with a high degree of graphitic structure. The electrical conductivities of the catalyst-coated SS mesh and carbon cloth were comparable, and the performance of the MFC was studied using both electrodes as anodes. A batch MFC with modified SS mesh as anode exhibited the highest power density of 155.35 mW/m3 in synthetic wastewater and 101.68 mW/m3 in kitchen wastewater, with COD removal efficiencies of 95.32% and 95.24%, respectively. In a continuous mode, the MFC delivered a maximum current density and power of 52.38 mA/m2 and 21.60 mW, respectively, with a maximum COD removal efficiency of 80.70% for an HRT of 20 hrs. These findings underscore the viability of using biomass-derived activated carbon as an anode catalyst in both batch and continuous modes of MFC.

Performance, emission, combustion, exergy, exergoeconomic and sustainability analyses of EGR incorporated CI engine fuelled with areca nut husk nano-additive dosed plastic oil–water-diesel emulsion blend

This first-of-a-kind research emphasizes the influence of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on engine characteristics, and exergy, sustainability, and exergoeconomic aspects of compression ignition engine, powered by plastic grocery bag-extracted plastic oil-diesel-water emulsion blend dosed with bio-nano-additive extracted from areca nut husk (D10EPO-15 ppm). Three EGR rates (5%, 10%, and 15%) were incorporated at varying engine loads. At 100% load, the EGR incorporation reduced the peak heat release rate and peak pressure up to 6.5 and 5.6%, respectively, in comparison to the base fuel without EGR. Up to 5.2 and 9.1% reduction in exhaust gas temperature and nitrogen oxide emission (NOx) was noticed with the EGR incorporation. However, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and smoke emissions increased with the EGR incorporation. Nevertheless, considering the overall characteristics, 5% EGR was the most suitable one to have a lower NOx (3.4%) with a minimum penalty on CO (4.3%), HC (5.4%), and smoke (3.6%) emissions as well as fuel consumption (3%), at full load. Amongst the three EGR rates, 5% EGR incorporation also has the highest exergy efficiency (20.9%) and sustainability index (1.26). Exergoeconomic analysis also revealed the favorability of 5% EGR, and at full load, 5% EGR showed the lowest specific exergy cost inflow rate (0.8957 $/hr), the lowest specific exergy cost rate for shaft work (75.27 $/GJ), the lowest relative cost difference (3.99), and the highest exergoeconomic factor (9.95%).

Sustainable waste valorisation: Novel Areca catechu L. husk biochar for anthraquinone dye adsorption - Characterization, modelling, kinetics, and isotherm studies

Textile waste water has a great polluting potential as it consists of dyes, emulsifiers, toxic metals, organic and inorganic compounds. Agro-based biochar is an effective adsorbent for the removal of contaminants from textile wastewater. The present study aims to synthesise biochar derived from areca nut (areca catechu L.) husk agro-waste using low-rate pyrolysis and to analyse the anthraquinone cationic Rhodamine B (RhB) and anionic Alizarine red S (AZ) dye removal efficiency. Synthesised biochar was characterized. Hydroxyl, carboxyl, acid and ester functional groups and graphite structure with distorted carbon stacks in biochar were confirmed through FTIR and XRD analysis. SEM analysis confirms the presence of non-uniform pores with crosslinked-pore-tunnels which assists the physisorption process of dye adsorption. The factorial interaction and optimum conditions were identified through response surface methodology and regression models were obtained (R2adj >95 % and R2pred>95 %). The synthesised biochar delivered an adsorption efficiency of 89 % and 87 % for RhB and AZ dye removal within 40min. The adsorption follows the pseudo first order and fit with the Langmuir isotherm for both dyes with a maximum adsorption capacity of 105.43 mg/g and 109.52 mg/g for RhB and AZ dyes. This study works to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6,7,12,13 and 14) and provides a sustainable solution.

Activated carbon synthesized from Arecanut catechu L. as a sustainable precursor intercalated TiO2 modified electrode for the detection of fungicide Dichlorophen

Pesticides, such as dichlorophen (DCP), pose serious threats to the ecosystem and human health. Hence, developing an efficient and sensitive detection method is crucial for environmental monitoring and remediation. In this study, we present a novel composite material comprised of TiO2 intercalated areca nut husk-derived activated carbon for the ultrasensitive detection of dichlorophen. The activated carbon is derived through a well-established activation process using areca nut husk waste, a sustainable biomass material. The material's irregular structure and large surface area provide abundant adsorption sites for the target analyte, DCP. The integration of TiO2 nanoparticles further enhances the detection capability due to their exceptional catalytic properties. Upon exposure to DCP, their interaction with the surface of composite material leads to measurable changes in its electrical and chemical properties. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques are used to validate the performance of the fabricated electrode. The developed ultrasensitive detection method exhibits remarkable DL (detection limit, 1.01 × 10−8 M) and QL (quantification limit, 3.36 × 10−8 M) values, hence can be a promising alternative for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and public health applications. The synergistic effect between activated carbon and TiO2 nanoparticles ensures a highly sensitive and selective response to DCP. Consequently, this advanced sensor system has great potential for detecting and quantifying dichlorophen concentrations in diverse environmental samples.

Scavenging Efficiency of Activated Charcoal of Sweet Corn Cop and Areca Nut Shell for Carcinogenic Salicylic Acid and Methylene Blue

Activated plant charcoal plays major role in adsorption chemistry and finds a huge application in industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and water treatment. Present work planned to utilize waste sweet corn cop and areca nut husk to prepare charcoal by chemical method. The charcoal was carbonized at 8000C using muffle furnace. The adsorption efficiency of the experimental activated carbon adsorbents towards the model organic compounds methylene blue and salicylic acid were assessed by UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. Experimental results clearly indicates that sweet corn cop charcoal recorded maximum absorption for salicylic acid 640ppm/g in compare to areca nut shell husk charcoal 480ppm/g. Sweet corn cop charcoal recorded optimum absorption for methylene blue 240 ppm/g in compare to areca nut shell husk charcoal 240ppm/g. The experimental charcoal projects noticeable results in scavenging salicylic acid and methylene blue from polluted samples. This experimental results and affordable cost the raw material made the sweet corn cop and areca nut husk activated carbon a powerful alternative for the adsorption of carcinogenic organic compounds salicylic acid and methylene blue.

Rheological, Mechanical, and Micro-Structural Property Assessment of Eco-Friendly Concrete Reinforced with Waste Areca Nut Husk Fiber

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has become one of the most promising construction techniques and repairing materials in recent times for the construction industry. Generally, plain concrete has a very low tensile strength and limited resistance to cracking prior to the ultimate load, which can be mitigated by the incorporation of fiber. Natural fibers have emerged as an appealing sustainable option in the last few decades due to their lower cost, energy savings, and minimized greenhouse effects. Areca fiber is one of the natural fibers that can be sourced from the waste-producing areca nut industry. Hence, this study aims to assess the mechanical, rheological, and micro-structural properties of areca fiber-reinforced concrete (AFRC). For this purpose, areca fiber was used in the concrete mix as a weight percentage of cement. In this regard, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight of cement substitutions were investigated. As key findings, 2% areca fiber enhanced the compressive strength of concrete by 2.89% compared to the control specimen (fiber-free concrete). On the other hand, splitting tensile strength increased by 18.16%. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the cement matrix and fibers are adequately connected at the interfacial level. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) test results showed more biodegradable carbon elements in the areca fiber-mixed concrete as well as an effective pozzolanic reaction. The study also exhibited that adding natural areca fiber lowered the fabrication cost by almost 1.5% and eCO2 emissions by 3%. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that AFRC can be used as a possible building material from the standpoint of sustainable construction purposes.

Chopped Areca Nut Fibers as Filler in Epoxy Matrix: Mechanical and Tribological Studies

In the current investigation, fibers extracted from the areca nut tree husk were either used unprocessed or processed with an alkaline treatment by being submerged in a 5 % sodium hydroxide solution. The average length of the areca fibers used in this work is 30 mm. Compression molding is used to create the composite out of an epoxy matrix with fibers added at 10, 15, 20 and 25 weight percent. The composites were tested for tensile strength, flexural modulus, Charpy impact, and shore D hardness, all of which showed the significant advantage acquired with quantity of fibers and fiber treatment. Pin on disc tribometer was used to conduct tribological tests on the treated fiber composites to analyse how the fiber-matrix bonding improved with an increase in fiber content. The primary shortcoming of the fibers is their relatively low elongation, which, even after treatment, hardly approaches 4 %. This indicates that the fibers are not uniform in length and prevents direct comparison to comparable composites containing a similar volume and length of natural fibers. The mechanical qualities of materials made with alkali treated chopped areca fibers where found to be enhanced when it was at 20 % volume fraction. A linear increment in values where observed in samples till 20 % volume fraction and a decrement with further increase in volume fraction. In the case of tribological evaluations, lesser values or wears were obtained at combination III for all the 3 loads, 10N, 15N and 20N. HIGHLIGHTS Three different amounts of fibers, namely 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt%, have been introduced in an epoxy matrix, fabricating the composite by compression molding. The composites were subjected to tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and Shore D hardness testing, which all demonstrated the considerable advantage obtained with quantity of fibers and fiber treatment, except in the case of hardness, where limited advantages were encountered. Also wear tests were carried out on treated fiber composites and surface morphology of the worn-out samples was studies, which demonstrated the improvement in fiber-matrix bonding obtained with the growing amounts of fibers. From the results on composites testing, it is evident that the areca nut husk fiber/epoxy polymer composites with an amount of short (30 mm length) random reinforcement introduced of 20 wt%, exhibits the highest peak mechanical properties among all the calculated properties. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Investigating environmental impacts of betel nut (Areca chatechu) waste disposal based on human behavior in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

The consumption of Areca catechu (betel nut) in combination with Piper betel and lime (calcium hydroxide) in Papua New Guinea has been a daily consumable commodity among the country’s population. Due to the increase usage of betel nut, more wastes tend to be deposited into the city’s environment making the city very filthy. The disposal of wastes along with its end byproducts has become a major problem for the environment due to uncontrolled human behavior and ignorance. The city of Port Moresby has seen a lot of wastes from betel nut husks and salivary spittle being spewed all over public places. The uncontrolled wastes disposal and carelessness of the people has significantly affected the outlook of the surrounding environment. Even though, laws were put in place to manage wastes, people do not care of the impacts and continue to ignore the laws. The study was undertaken to understand human behavior and characteristics towards improper waste management and determine the level of wastes derived from the use of betel nut. The study was conducted using simple random sampling and stratified sampling methods through interviews for qualitative data collection. The results revealed that ignorance and carelessness exist within the population in managing betel nut wastes. The results also indicate that banning the sale and trading of betel nut may lead to social and economic problems for most of the unemployed population in Port Moresby. Therefore, it requires a better approach from the government and the city authorities to develop and implement workable win-win solution to the problems faced by the city residence as well as managing their wastes from the use of betel nut.

Microwave-assisted production of biodiesel using sulfonated carbon-based catalyst derived from biowaste

ABSTRACT For cost-effective biodiesel synthesis, a solid heterogeneous acid catalyst SO3H-ARNH-12 was synthesized by sulfonation of activated carbon derived from areca nut husk (ARNH). SEM-EDS, XPS, FTIR, and XRD analyses investigate the morphology and elemental composition that reveals the successful sulfonation of carbonaceous material. The SO3H-ARNH-12 provides an excellent conversion of 99.15 ± 0.4% in a short reaction time (30 min) under various optimized conditions {catalyst dose 7 wt.%, 100°C temperature, 1:10 Oleic acid-to-MeOH ratio (OATMR)}. It has been investigated that different types of alcohols affect the biodiesel yield. Moreover, the biodiesel yield was established by GC analysis, and confirmation of biodiesel synthesis was done by 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy. The effective catalytic activity of the catalyst was observed for up to six cycles. This work provides a sustainable heterogeneous acid catalyst for the fabrication of biodiesel, which solves pollution, time, and energy consumption issues.

An eco-friendly approach of designing arecanut husk ash into high performance Li ion battery anodes

Designing a facile synthesis approach for large scale production of Si based anode materials that would resist the huge volume expansion and subsequent pulverization during cycling is a major challenge that hinders their commercialization. The present paper uses a green approach for the synthesis of a Si based composite electrode material sourced from arecanut husk ash. In addition, the conventional organic electrolytes are replaced with Room Temperature Ionic liquid based solvents to improve the safety as well as stability. It was found that the anode materials exhibit an exceptional stability of 85.3 % at the end of 100 cycles when used in half cells.