Cattail Fiber Research Articles

Ultralight Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Cattail Fiber Cellulose Aerogels as Green and Recyclable Organic Liquid Captors

Ultralight Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Cattail Fiber Cellulose Aerogels as Green and Recyclable Organic Liquid Captors

Tensile Properties of Cattail Fibres at Various Phenological Development Stages.

Cattails (Typha latifolia L.) are naturally occurring aquatic macrophytes with significant industrial potential because of their abundance, high-quality fibers, and high fiber yields. This study is the first attempt to investigate how phenological development and plant maturity impact the quality of cattail fibers as they relate to composite applications. It was observed that fibers from all five growth stages exhibited a Weibull shape parameter greater than 1.0, with a goodness-of-fit exceeding 0.8. These calculations were performed using both the Least Square Regression (LSR) and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) methods. Among the estimators, the MLE method provided the most conservative estimation of Weibull parameters. Based on the Weibull parameters obtained with all estimators, cattail fibers from all five growth stages appear suitable for composite applications. The consistency of shape parameters across all five growth stages can be attributed to the morphological and molecular developments of cattail fiber during the vegetative period. These developments were confirmed through the presence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) plates, elemental composition, and specific infrared peaks at 2360 cm-1 contributing to the strength, cellulose peaks at 1635 cm-1, 2920 cm-1, and 3430 cm-1. In conclusion, it was found that the mechanical properties of cattail fiber remain similar when harvested multiple times in a single growing season.

Sustainable Construction with Cattail Fibers in Imbabura, Ecuador: Physical and Mechanical Properties, Research, and Applications

This study is dedicated to advancing practical and experimental knowledge within sustainable construction and enhancing community productivity, focusing on cattail schoenoplectus californicus, Cyperaceae fibers in Imbabura, Ecuador. The research aims to meticulously analyze and understand cattail fibers’ physical and mechanical properties, characteristics, and potential applications through extensive laboratory testing. The study strives to contribute significantly to the ongoing discussions surrounding sustainable building materials by offering a rich repository of scientific data and insights from our in-depth investigations. Furthermore, we delve into biotechnology and biomimicry, seeking inspiration from the natural world to innovate our construction methodologies. Our exploration also encompasses the technical dimensions of a building, artisanal craftsmanship, eco-conscious design principles, and the evaluation of seismic strength within architectural, structural, and acoustical design frameworks. Through this comprehensive approach, we aspire to illuminate new pathways for employing cattail in sustainable construction practices.

Resistance of the fiber-derived geotextile from Typha domingensis submitted to field degradation

Geotextiles made from plant fibers creates a suitable environment for plant growth as part of soil bioengineering techniques. The faster decomposition of plant fiber geotextiles compared to synthetic ones demands the use of composites that enhance their waterproofing and extend their durability in the environment. The objective of this work was to evaluate the resistance of a geotextile made with Thypha domingensis to degradation caused by climatic variables. Tensile strength tests were conducted in the laboratory in order to evaluate the degradation of geotextiles treated with single and double layers of waterproofing resin. Based on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images, it was verified that applying double layer of waterproofing resin delays the fibers degradation up to 120 days of exposure to the effects of climatic variables other than temperature. The maximum resistance losses due to the geotextile's exposure to degradation were statistically significant for all three treatments: control-without waterproofing resin, with one layer resin, and with two layers resin. Therefore, waterproofing resin, provides a long-term protective solution for geotextiles made from cattail fibers.

Electrochemical capacitance and hydrogen adsorption behavior of activated carbon derived from cattail fiber

AbstractIn this paper, we have reported the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from biomass cattail fiber through hydrothermal carbonization, followed by chemical activation, and its electrochemical capacitance and hydrogen storage properties. The AC exhibits a Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area (SBET) of 1597.5 m2g−1, determined from the low‐pressure N2 adsorption isotherm at 77 K using a BET‐multipoint plot. The AC sample shows a reversible hydrogen adsorption capacity of 0.25 wt.% H2 (1.25 mmol H2 g−1) at 293 K and 74 atm. The capacitance performance of AC was investigated with various conductive additives such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon black (CB), and reduced graphene‐oxide (rGO). From galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, the as‐derived AC with polymer binder exhibits a specific capacitance (Cs) of 245.2 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and 158.1 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1. Among the investigated conductive additives, AC with CNTs in KOH electrolyte exhibit highest Cs of 326 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and 173 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1. Furthermore, the symmetrical two‐electrode device fabricated using AC with CNTs (as a conductive additive) in 1 M aq. Na2SO4 electrolyte shows a Cs of 97.2 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. The energy and power densities of the two‐electrode device were observed to be 28 kW kg−1 and 2.64 Wh kg−1, respectively.

Utilization of Waste Natural Fibers Mixed with Polylactic Acid (PLA) Bicomponent Fiber: Incorporating Kapok and Cattail Fibers for Nonwoven Medical Textile Applications.

Disposable surgical gowns are usually made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers that do not naturally decompose, impacting the environment. A promising approach to diminish the environmental impact of disposable gowns involves utilizing natural fibers and/or bio-based synthetic fibers. In this study, composite webs from polylactic acid (PLA) bicomponent fiber and natural fibers, cattail and kapok fibers, were prepared using the hot press method. Only the sheath region of the PLA bicomponent fiber melted, acting as an adhesive that enhanced the strength and reduced the thickness of the composite web compared with its state before hot pressing. The mechanical and physical properties of these composite webs were evaluated. Composite webs created from kapok fibers displayed a creamy yellowish-white color, while those made from cattail fibers showed a light yellowish-brown color. Additionally, the addition of natural fibers endowed the composite webs with hydrophobic properties. The maximum natural fiber content, at a ratio of 30:70 (natural fiber to PLA fiber), can be incorporated while maintaining proper water vapor permeability and mechanical properties. This nonwoven material presents an alternative with the potential to replace petroleum-based surgical gowns.

Effect of fiber surface treatment on mechanical, interfacial, and moisture absorption properties of cattail fiber‐reinforced composites

AbstractSurface treatment of cattail, a lignocellulosic renewable fiber, was investigated to determine the conditions that would reduce moisture absorption while maximizing the properties of cattail fiber‐reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Surface modification of cattail fiber was studied by treating them with 2.5, 5, and 10% of 1,6‐diisocyanatohexane (DIH) and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) for three different immersion times (10, 20, and 30 min). DIH‐HEA treated fibers were preformed into a non‐woven mat and impregnated with unsaturated polyester resin to manufacture composite. The existence of covalent bonds on the treated fibers via NH and CN groups was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The 10% DIH‐HEA resulted in the best results; while the mean diameter of the treated fiber decreased by ~37%, the modulus and the strength of it increased by ~267 and ~151%, respectively. Equilibrium moisture regain of the treated fibers and their composites decreased by ~43% and ~40%, respectively. The tensile modulus of the composites increased by ~171%. Enhancement in tensile strength is observed but could not be quantified due to the difference in Vf and scatter in the data. SEM examination confirmed the enhancement in fiber–matrix bonding due to surface treatment.

1T‐WS2 Nanosheet‐Modified Biomass Carbon as Sulfur Host for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The sluggish sulfur reaction kinetics and fast capacity attenuation still pose great challenges to lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Herein, tubular carbonl (HPOC) is obtained by carbonization of the cattail fiber. 1T‐WS2@HPOC is prepared by solvothermal method, and their sulfur composite, 1T‐WS2@HPOC/S and HPOC/S as sulfur host composite, is obtained by sulfur melting. The composite materials are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, etc. Results show that 1T‐WS2 grows uniformly on the HPOC substrate and has abundant active sites, which can effectively improve the physicochemical adsorption capacity of S‐fixation (76 wt%) and polysulfide. Battery assembly and electrochemical performance tests are conducted for the HPOC/S and 1T‐WS2@HPOC/S composites. Results show that the initial discharge capacity of the 1T‐WS2@HPOC/S positive electrode is 1272 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, higher than the HPOC/S positive electrode (1025 mAh g−1). 1T‐WS2@HPOC/S maintains a discharge capacity of 695 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 0.5 C, with a capacity decay rate of only 0.054% per cycle. With a discharge capacity of 504 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 1 C, the Coulomb efficiency is 98.9%. The 1T‐WS2@HPOC/S composites with unique structure and excellent electrochemical performance have broad application prospects in the field of Li–S batteries.

Compressible polyaniline-coated sodium alginate-cattail fiber foam for efficient and salt-resistant solar steam generation

Solar steam generation has attracted widespread attention because of its ability to produce clean water through desalination and wastewater treatment without conventional energy consumption. In this work, a polyaniline (PANI)-coated sodium alginate (SA)/cattail fiber (CF) foam for photothermal evaporator is prepared via directional freezing and oxidative polymerization. The SA/CF foam displays desirable water pumping capability because of the lamellar sandwich structure interconnected by porous networks. More importantly, the directional porous network architecture ameliorates the mechanical and salt-resistant performances of the SA/CF foam. The as-prepared PANI@SA/CF foam shows inferior heat conductivity of 0.047 W m−1 K−1 and outstanding light absorption over 96% in solar window. A vapor evaporation rate of 2.04 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun illumination is achieved for the PANI@SA/CF evaporator. Furthermore, the PANI@SA/CF foam could be employed in solar-driven freshwater generation from seawater and wastewater with high ion and dye removal rates. The combination of water evaporation and cleaning capabilities of the PANI@SA/CF foam as photothermal materials provide a framework for the exploration of next-generation evaporators in seawater desalination and wastewater treatment applications.

Analisis Efek Pelat Berpori pada Serat Tanaman Ekor Kucing (Typha Latifolia) terhadap Koefisien Penyerap Suara

This study aims to determine the value of the sound absorption coefficient of cat tail fiber (Typha latifolia) with the effect of weight and pore size resistance of the test sample plate. In this case the researchers made 6 test samples where each sample consisted of cat tail fibers weighing 50 grams and 75 grams with a diameter of 110 mm and a thickness of 20 mm, the test samples were arranged in layers with aluminimum plate resistance which had a pore size of 1 mm, 1.5mm, and 2.5 mm. Tests were conducted using the impedance tube transfer function method (ISO 10534-2:1998) at frequencies of 1/1 octave (125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz). The test results show that the sound absorption value at each frequency of each sample is relatively different. At a frequency of 125 Hz - 250 Hz the best sound absorption was obtained in the test sample with a pore size of 1 mm 75 g, at a frequency of 500 Hz the best sound absorption was obtained in the test sample with a pore size of 1.5 mm 75 g, at a frequency of 1000 Hz - 8000 Hz the best sound absorbing coefficient value occurred in the test sample with a pore size of 1 mm 75 g. From the graph it can be concluded that the pore size of the aluminum plate and density in each test sample can affect the sound absorption value.

Effective extraction of fluoroquinolones from water using facile modified plant fibers

In this study, ecofriendly and economic carboxy-terminated plant fibers (PFs) were used as adsorbents for the effective in-syringe solid phase extraction (IS-SPE) of fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues from water. Based on the thermal esterification and etherification reaction of cellulose hydroxy with citric acid (CA) and sodium chloroacetate in aqueous solutions, carboxy groups grafted onto cotton, cattail, and corncob fibers were fabricated. Compared with carboxy-terminated corncob and cotton, CA-modified cattail with more carboxy groups showed excellent adsorption capacity for FQs. The modified cattail fibers were reproducible and reusable with relative standard deviations of 3.2%–4.2% within 10 cycles of adsorption-desorption. A good extraction efficiency of 71.3%–80.9% was achieved after optimizing the extraction condition. Based on carboxylated cattail, IS-SPE coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector was conducted to analyze FQs in environmental water samples. High sensitivity with limit of detections of 0.08–0.25 μg/L and good accuracy with recoveries of 83.8%–111.7% were obtained. Overall, the simple and environment-friendly modified waste PFs have potential applications in the effective extraction and detection of FQs in natural waters.

Surface bonding of CoP to biomass derived carbon microtube: Site-specific growth and high-efficiency catalysis

The imitation and exploration of natural structures and characteristics are the inspiration source for science and technology progress. Herein, we report a method for preparing CoP anchored carbon microtubes (CoP@BCMT) by continuous hydrothermal, carbonization and phosphorization processes using cattail fibers (CFs) as carbon sources. The surface hydroxyl (–OH) groups acted as the growth sites for CoP fixed and grew in special positions. Co was anchored to BCMT surface through –OH groups and C-O-Co bonds were formed between CoP and BCMT. Surface bonding can ensure the growth of CoP at specific sites. The ultra-thin carbon layer covered CoP was deposited by the deposition of suspended carbon during CFs carbonization. CoP size, dispersibility and adhesion were maintained well due to surface coating and bonding. C-O-Co bonds promoted electron transfer and optimized adsorption energy of hydrogen, which was evaluated by density functional theory calculations. CoP@BCMT exhibited a low overpotential of 49 mV at current density of 10 mA cm−2 and long-term stability for 72 h. We modified commercial carbon nanotubes with surface hydroxyl groups and then combined with CoP, which greatly improved the catalytic performance. This work provides us with ideas for learning and using biomass to prepare advanced catalysts.

Probabilistic model for cattail and canola fibers: effect of environmental conditions, structural parameters, fiber length, and estimators

Biomass fibers are being widely investigated for industrial applications as an alternative to synthetic fibers using a standard humidity condition. In this study, the mechanical properties of two waste biomass fibers – canola and cattail – have been investigated when subjected to different environmental conditions, fiber length, and type of estimators used during analysis. The effect of different environmental conditions and structural variations were investigated by measuring the tensile properties after exposing them to eight different relative humidity conditions using a fixed fiber length of 25 mm. Further investigation was conducted using fiber lengths of 25, 35 and 45 mm using the most conservative relative humidity condition. The data were analyzed by a Weibull distribution model using four different estimators. The results revealed that Weibull strength ( σavg) and modulus (Eavg) closely followed experimental values for cattail and canola fibers. The different relative humidity conditions and fiber lengths resulted in different Weibull parameters with 11% relative humidity and the mean rank estimator predicted the most conservative tensile strength for both waste biomass fibers. The experimental and characteristic Weibull strength decreased when fiber gauge length increased from 25 to 45 mm. The tensile strength and modulus of both waste biomass fibers at 50% reliability lie within the range of average experimental values. However, these values are reduced to 155 MPa (strength) and 20 GPa (modulus) for cattail fiber at 90% reliability. The survival probability of the tensile strength and modulus were found to be the highest at 75% and 100% relative humidity for cattail and canola fibers, respectively.

Activated carbon fibers derived from natural cattail fibers for supercapacitors

Activated carbon fibers derived from natural cattail fibers for supercapacitors

Porous biomass foam of polypyrrole-coated cattail fibers for efficient photothermal evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation has become a prospective approach for freshwater production, desalination, and sewage treatment via efficient photothermal conversion. Nevertheless, the development of high-performance, low-cost and environment-friendly solar evaporator is still a major challenge. In this work, a three-dimensional porous solar evaporator is proposed based on polypyrrole (PPy) decorated cattail fiber (CF) foam. The CF foam exhibits superior water transport capacity owing to the unique grooved structure of the cattail fiber. The as-prepared PPy@CF foam shows low thermal conductivity, good salt resistance, and superior light absorption of ∼97% in a wide wavelength region (300–2500 nm) after the introduction of PPy coating. The PPy@CF foam exhibits a vapor evaporation rate of 1.678 kg m−2 h−1 as well as a photothermal conversion efficiency of 99.6% under one sun illumination. In addition, the PPy@CF foam may be applied for clean water production from seawater and sewage with prominent rejection of ions and dye. The present work demonstrates the excellent potential of the PPy@CF foam as an economical biomass material for high-performance solar evaporators.

Characterization of potential cellulose fiber from cattail fiber: A study on micro/nano structure and other properties

Exploration of the application prospects of cattail fibers (CFs) in natural composites, and other fields is important for the sustainable development of new, green, light-weight, functional biomass materials. In this study, the physical and chemical properties, micro/nano structure, and mechanical characteristics of CFs were investigated. The CFs have a low density (618.0 kg m−3). The results of transmission electron microscopy and tensile testing data indicated that the cattail trunk fiber (CTF) bundle is composed of parenchyma cells and solid stone cells, demonstrating high specific modulus (10.1 MPa∙m3·kg−1) and high elongation at break (3.9%). In turn, the cattail branch fiber (CBF) bundle is composed of parenchyma cells with specific “half-honeycomb” shape. The inner diaphragms divide these cells into the open cavities. This structural feature endows the CTF bundles with stable structure, good oil absorption and storage capacities. The chemical component and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses show that the CFs have higher lignin content (20.6%) and wax content (11.5%), which are conducive to the improvement of corrosion resistance, thermal stability and lipophilic–hydrophobic property of CF. Finally, the thermogravimetric analysis indicates that its final degradation temperature is 404.5 °C, which is beneficial to the increase in processability of CFs-reinforced composites.

Novel cattail fiber composites: converting waste biomass into reinforcement for composites

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), used in manufacturing medium to large-sized composites for transportation industries, requires non-woven mats. While non-woven glass mats used in these applications are optimized for resin impregnation and properties, such optimized mats for natural fibers are not available. In the current research, cattail fibers were extracted from plants (18–30% yield) using alkali retting and non-woven cattail fiber mat was manufactured. The extracted fibers exhibited a normal distribution in diameter (davg. = 32.1 µm); the modulus and strength varied inversely with diameter, and their average values were 19.1 GPa and 172.3 MPa, respectively. The cattail fiber composites were manufactured using non-woven mats, Stypol polyester resin, VARTM pressure (101 kPa) and compression molding pressures (260 and 560 kPa) and tested. Out-of-plane permeability changed with the fiber volume fraction (Vf) of the mats, which was influenced by areal density, thickness, and fiber packing in the mat. The cattail fibers reinforced the Stypol resin significantly. The modulus and the strength increased with consolidation pressures due to the increase in Vf, with maximum values of 7.4 GPa and 48 MPa, respectively, demonstrating the utility of cattail fibers from waste biomass as reinforcements.

Boosting polysulfides immobilization and conversion through CoS2 catalytic sites loaded carbon fiber for robust lithium sulfur batteries

The practical applications of lithium sulfur battery is impeded by the lithium polysulfide shuttling and sluggish redox kinetics. To address the issues, herein, a multifunctional host is developed by the combination of nitrogen, phosphorus co-doped carbon fiber (NPCF) and CoS2 towards boost the soluble polysulfides adsorption and transformation. Benefiting from the NPCF originated from biomass cattail fibers, a high conductive network is provided, and shuttle effect is reduced due to the strong chemical interaction between abundant heteroatom polar sites and lithium polysulfides. Moreover, the electrocatalytic CoS2 on the carbon skeleton facilitate lithium polysulfides conversion and lithium sulfide deposition based on the density functional theory calculations and experiments. The efficient lithium polysulfides entrapment and subsequent electrocatalytic conversion improve dynamic stability during cycling, especially for rate capability. With these advantageous features, the electrode with NPCF/CoS2 host can deliver a good rate capability (903 and 782 mAh g−1 at 1C and 2C, respectively) and stable cycling performance with an ultra-low capacity decay of 0.014% per cycle at 1C. Notably, the cell can achieve a high areal capacity of 4.96 mA h cm−2 under an elevated sulfur loading of 5.0 mg cm−2. Overall, the improvement on the electrochemical performance ascertains the validity of the design strategy based on synergy engineering, which is a highly suitable approach for energy storage and conversion application.

Cattail fibers as source of cellulose to prepare a novel type of composite aerogel adsorbent for the removal of enrofloxacin in wastewater

In this study, cattail was researched as a natural cellulose source to extract cellulose. Dewaxing, alkali and bleaching treatments were carried out for the cattail fibers (CFs). The FTIR, SEM and XRD results indicated that hemicellulose and lignin were successfully removed from the CFs, and the content of cattail cellulose increased from 41.66 ± 1.11% to 89.72 ± 1.07%. Subsequently, cellulose aerogel was prepared by the extracted cattail cellulose. The Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was uniformly loaded onto the surface of cellulose aerogel by the in situ growth, and ZIF-8 Cattail Cellulose Aerogel (ZCCA) was finally prepared. The SEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA results further confirmed the successful preparation of ZCCA. Additionally, the results of the adsorption experiment showed that ZCCA had excellent adsorption performance for enrofloxacin, and the maximum adsorption capacity of enrofloxacin reached 172.09 mg·g−1 while showing good reusability. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption of enrofloxacin was a spontaneous endothermic reaction and that the adsorption mechanism involves the interaction of hydrogen bonds, electrostatic and π-π stacking.

Oil spill cleanup by natural fibers: a review

Purpose In recent years, oil spill pollution has become one of the main problems of environmental pollution. Recovering oil by means of sorbent materials is a very promising approach and has acquired more attention due to its high cleanup efficiency. Compared to synthetic fibrous sorbents, the use of natural fibers in oil spill cleanups offers several advantages including environmental friendliness, degradable features and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, studies on developing sorbents using natural fibers for oil spill cleanup applications have become a research hotspot. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews the work conducted by several researchers in developing oil sorbents from fibers such as cattail, nettle, cotton, milkweed, kapok, populous seed fiber and Metaplexis japonica fiber. Some featured critical parameters influencing the oil sorption capacity of fibrous substrates are discussed. Oil sorption capacity and reusability performance of various fibers are also discussed. Recent developments in oil spill cleanups and test methods for oil sorbents are briefly covered. Findings The main parameters influencing the oil sorption capacity of sorbents are fiber morphological structure, fiber density (g/cc), wax (%), hollowness (%) and water contact angle. An extensive literature review showed that oil sorption capacity is highest for Metaplexis japonica fiber followed by populous seed fiber, kapok, milkweed, cotton, nettle and cattail fiber. After use, the sorbents can be buried under soil or they can also be burned so that they can be vanished from the surface without causing environmental-related issues. Originality/value This review paper aims to summarize research studies conducted related to various natural fibers for oil spill cleanups, fiber structural characteristics influencing oil sorption and recent developments in oil spill cleanups. This work will inspire future researchers with various knowledge backgrounds, particularly, from a sustainability perspective.