Crop Waste Research Articles

Development of Low-Cost Porous Carbons through Alkali Activation of Crop Waste for CO2 Capture.

To achieve the "double carbon" (carbon peak and carbon neutrality) target, low-cost CO2 capture at large CO2 emission points is of great importance, during which the development of low-cost CO2 sorbents will play a key role. Here, we chose peanut shells (P) from crop waste as the raw material and KOH and K2CO3 as activators to prepare porous carbons by a simple one-step activation method. Interestingly, the porous carbon showed a good adsorption capacity of 2.41 mmol/g for 15% CO2 when the mass ratio of K2CO3 to P and the activation time were only 0.5 and 0.5 h, respectively, and the adsorption capacity remained at 98.76% after 10 adsorption-desorption cycle regenerations. The characterization results suggested that the activated peanut shell-based porous carbons were mainly microporous and partly mesoporous, and hydroxyl (O-H), ether (C-O), and pyrrolic nitrogen (N-5) functional groups that promoted CO2 adsorption were formed during activation. In conclusion, KOH- and K2CO3-activated P, especially K2CO3-activated P, showed good CO2 adsorption and regeneration performance. In addition, not only the use of a small amount of the activator but also the raw material of crop waste reduces the sorbent preparation costs and CO2 capture costs.

Self-extracted corn-stalk cellulose/epoxy resin composites

In order to make full use of crop waste stalk, corn-stalk cellulose (CSC) was extracted by acid–base method and used as modifier of epoxy resin (E51) to prepare the self-extracted corn-stalk cellulose/epoxy resin composites (CSCEC). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), morphology analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the mechanical properties by electronic universal testing machine and impact testing machine were used for characterization and analysis. The experimental results showed that when the CSC content was 20 wt%, the impact strength of the composite was 2.50 kJ/m2, which was 127.2% higher than that of pure epoxy resin. When the CSC content was 20 wt%, the Tg of epoxy resin obtained by DMA was the lowest, 167.4 °C, which decreased by 11.3 °C compared with that of pure epoxy resin. The SEM result showed that the fracture surface of the composite became obviously rough and had of obvious folds, which was a ductile fracture. These results indicated that the addition of CSC could toughen the epoxy resin.

Agricultural waste from crop production as an energy resource

In recent years, crop waste has become a promising energy resource in many countries of the world. For Russia, the use of this type of waste for energy purposes is not only an opportunity to provide energy to the population, but also a solution to a number of environmental problems - reducing the risk of forest fires and CO2 emissions. The paper presents the results of an assessment of the energy potential of grain waste within the boundaries of the municipalities of the Rostov region. The gross and technical potential of grain waste (straw), calculated according to the author’s methods, are correlated with the needs of the population of the studied region in thermal energy. The results obtained show a significant amount of technical heat potential for many municipalities of the region. The spatial distribution obtained with the help of geoinformation technologies makes it possible to determine the most promising areas for the use of grain waste for the production of thermal energy. The paper also assessed the prospects for replacing traditional fuels such as coal, diesel fuel, natural gas and fuel oil with energy from straw. The possible environmental effect from the replacement of hydrocarbon fuel for the municipal districts of the Rostov region of the Russian Federation is calculated.

Growth Intensity of Trichoderma Viride at Different Doses and Sources of Copper in the Medium

The biological properties of Trichoderma Viride fungi allow them to be effectively used in the technologies of crop waste disposal, production of organic, environmentally friendly fertilisers, and prevention of soil diseases of plants. The growth and development of these fungi depend on a number of trace elements that are found in the medium. Copper is of great importance among trace elements. The establishment of the ability to use copper as a stimulator of biomass accumulation of Trichoderma Viride fungi is of scientific and practical interest for national economic needs, which indicates the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study is to establish the effectiveness of the effect of various copper compounds on the growth and development of Trichoderma Viride. To investigate the effect of the metal-biotic on the growth of microorganisms, 0.5 to 10.0 mg/100 cm3 of the element in the form of copper sulphate, mixed ligand complex and copper glycinate were added to the medium with potato dextrose agar (PDA). In the control variant, the element was not added to the nutrient medium. The media were inoculated with the Viridin preparation. Trichoderma Viride growth was recorded on days 4 and 7 of the experiment. It has been experimentally established that the fungal population is affected by the content and source of copper in the medium. It was found that the presence of a biotic metal in the medium in mineral or chelated form is up to 1.0 mg/100 cm3 stimulates the build-up of fungal biomass. It was proved that on the 4th day of cultivation for the introduction of copper into the medium in the amount of 1.0 mg/100 cm3 in the mixed-ligand form, the population of Trichoderma Viride increased by 75.0%. On the 7th day, the increase in the number of fungal cells was 58.3%. It was found that with the introduction in the medium of more than 5.0 mg/100 cm3 copper in any form, the population growth of Trichoderma Viride fungi decreased. The higher the copper content in the medium, the greater the inhibition of fungal cell reproduction. It was generalised that comparing the action of the mixed ligand complex copper, copper glycinate, and copper sulphate, it was found that the latter compound is the most toxic against Trichoderma Viride

Characteristics of Biochars Derived from Greenhouse Crop Wastes under Different Pyrolysis Temperature and Time Conditions

Biochar from biomass pyrolysis is a carbon-rich material that has been used to remove various contaminants and to sequestrate carbon in soil. Recently, the cultivated area of greenhouse crops increased and the emission of by-products also increased. So, we need technology to turn these by-products in to agricultural resources. In this study, facilities crop wastes (red pepper, paprika) was converted into biochars at different pyrolysis temperature of 200, 300, 400, 600 and pyrolysis time of 1, 2, 4 hour under limited oxygen condition. Produced biochars were investigate to evaluate its yield, chemical properties (pH, EC, TC, TN, TP, K, Ca, Mg, Na) and surface properties (surface structure and element composition). For the biochar pyrolyzed at a high temperature, the values of pH, EC, TC and surface pore size increased whereas the yield and O/C ratio decreased. Based on the research results, when manufacturing biochar using by-products of greenhouse crops, the optimum pyrolysis temperature was 300 - 400 degrees and the pyrolysis time was 1 - 2 hours.Characteristics of surface and elemental compositions of red pepper and paprika wastes used in this study.

Recycling crop and animal waste is a win for green farming

Recycling crop and animal waste is a win for green farming

Green synthesis of nanostructures from rice straw food waste to improve the antimicrobial efficiency: New insight

Applications for nanotechnology, which is constantly gaining prominence, have been found in a variety of industrial applications. Due to the multiple benefits associated with it, including an eco-friendly, pollution-free, cost-effective, and non-toxic synthesis method, the green way to synthesize nanostructures utilizing waste biomasses has become one of the key focuses of the current researches globally. Additionally, lignocellulasic biomass (LCB), which is a waste of the food crops, can be used as one of the potential substrates for the synthesis of a variety of nanostructures. Among different types of LCB, rice straw is a potential food waste biomass and can be efficiently employed during the synthesis of different types of nanostructures for a range of technological applications. Here, diverse phenolic compounds found in rice straw as well as reducing sugars can be used as natural reducing and capping agents to prepare a range of nanostructures. Based on the aforementioned facts, the objective of this review is to investigate the viability of using rice straw to produce nanostructured materials using rice straw as a renewable biosource following an environmentally friendly method. Additionally, it is noted that various organic compounds present on the surface of nanostructures produced using rice straw extract/hydrolyzate through a green approach may be more successful in terms of antibacterial efficacy, which might be of considerable interest for a variety of biomedical applications. Based on the possibility of enhancing the antimicrobial activity of developed nanostructures, the review also provides overview on the feasibility, characteristics, and availability of using rice straw extract in the synthesis of nanostructures. Additionally, the constraints of the present and potential futures of the green synthesis methods using rice straw wastes have been explored.

Conversion of Mixed Waste Plastic into Fuel Oil Production from Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the thermochemical decomposition of organic materials at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The process usually takes place in a sealed vessel under high pressure. Pyrolysis involves the simultaneous change of chemical composition and physical phase and irreversible. Excessive pyrolysis which leaves most of the carbon as a residue is called carbonization. Pyrolysis can deal with a variety of organic materials including plastic waste, food waste, crop waste, used cooking oil, used engine oil, etc. Pyrolysis is used to transform a variety of household items and industrial residues into fuel by recovering them. During pyrolysis, the molecules of the object vibrate at high frequencies to the extent that the molecules break down. The rate of pyrolysis also increases with the increase of temperature. The temperature of household items ranges from 370°C to above 410°C. Industrial applications have temperatures above 430°C. Pyrolysis is the transformation of waste biomass into a liquid fuel form. The density of the product fuel is 0.89gram/millilitre. The fuel produced has a long carbon chain length C9-C24 which is determined by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS). The produced fuel functional group and energy fuel heat enthalpy value is shown in the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis result. The fuel produced can also be used as an internal combustion engine. The feed stock can be used as feed for refineries or as power generation feed for power plants. The objective of this research is to address the problem of waste plastic by using economical technology pyrolysis for waste reduction and energy recovery. Along with these environmental problems can also be solved. With the help of economical technology, we can save the environment and the problem of inflation of petrol in our country can also be reduced to some extent.

Agro-Industrial Food Waste as a Low-Cost Substrate for Sustainable Production of Industrial Enzymes: A Critical Review

The grave environmental, social, and economic concerns over the unprecedented exploitation of non-renewable energy resources have drawn the attention of policy makers and research organizations towards the sustainable use of agro-industrial food and crop wastes. Enzymes are versatile biocatalysts with immense potential to transform the food industry and lignocellulosic biorefineries. Microbial enzymes offer cleaner and greener solutions to produce fine chemicals and compounds. The production of industrially important enzymes from abundantly present agro-industrial food waste offers economic solutions for the commercial production of value-added chemicals. The recent developments in biocatalytic systems are designed to either increase the catalytic capability of the commercial enzymes or create new enzymes with distinctive properties. The limitations of low catalytic efficiency and enzyme denaturation in ambient conditions can be mitigated by employing diverse and inexpensive immobilization carriers, such as agro-food based materials, biopolymers, and nanomaterials. Moreover, revolutionary protein engineering tools help in designing and constructing tailored enzymes with improved substrate specificity, catalytic activity, stability, and reaction product inhibition. This review discusses the recent developments in the production of essential industrial enzymes from agro-industrial food trash and the application of low-cost immobilization and enzyme engineering approaches for sustainable development.

The role of carbon dots in the life cycle of crops

The novel 0-dimensional quasi-spherical fluorescent carbon dots (diameter <10 nm) have the characteristics of small size, adjustable emission wavelength range, easy functional modification of surface groups, and good biocompatibility. Studies showed that it has great application potential in the entire life cycle of crops, including pre-harvest and post-harvest. Subsequently, crop waste can be used to prepare carbon dots and re-enter the crop life cycle. This review summarizes recent studies showing that carbon dots with specific chemical or optical properties can enhance crop yields in different ways. The small size and surface hydrophilic groups that can cross the plant cell barrier are beneficial to CDs to promote seed germination and absorb nutrients to promote growth. The high carbon content (>60%) endows it with potential as a nano-carbon fertilizer. CDs with positive surface charges or prepared by medium molecular weight PEI are the key to targeted delivery of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, DNA or RNA. The luminescence range of CDs covers the absorption range of plants and the electron donor and acceptor properties promote plant photosynthesis. The antioxidant properties of CDs are crucial for improving crop stress resistance. Photodynamic, photothermal, and UV absorption properties endow CDs with antibacterial and preservation applications. Finally, current challenges and future prospects are discussed.

Economic Feasibility of Integrated Agriculture Pattern for Bali Cattle (Bos Javanicus) in North Central Timor Regency

This study aims to: (1). know the economic feasibility of integrated livestock farming in North Central Timor Regency. (2). Describe the feasibility of integrated livestock farming from an economic aspect in North Central Timor Regency. The analysis used in this research are descriptive and economic feasibility analysis (R/C ratio). The data obtained are in the form of primary data and secondary data. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the potential that is owned, such as the availability of paddy field with an average of 37.85 acres / person and upland land with an average of 45.54acres / person are able to produce an average of 407.26 kg / year / person of rice, 501.33 kg / year / person of corn. So that it can produce agricultural crop waste such as rice straw amounting to 6.109 tons / ha / year and corn waste of 7.520 tons / ha / year. It can be said that rice and corn agricultural waste is able to help the availability of feed for cattle as much as 4 cows / year. The feasibility of the integration pattern of farming and livestock in TTU regency is feasible. The results of the R / C Ratio analysis, is 8.44 (R / C Ratio&gt; 1) with a revenue of Rp.607,405,000 of the total cost incurred of Rp.192,000,000.

Development of a Unique Technology for the Pyrolysis of Rice Husk Biochar for Promising Heavy Metal Remediation

Due to anthropogenic activities, potentially toxic elements cause severe soil pollution worldwide. Therefore, remediation of contaminated soils is exigent and imperative. One cost-effective and environmentally friendly remediation approach is the application of biochar, which is a solid carbonaceous material. Biochar degrades slowly in soil and can persist there for thousands of years, according to various estimations. In addition, coal obtained from crop wastes has a developed porous structure, a high specific surface area, and does not contain toxic compounds such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biochar with optimal values for specific surface area and porosity was obtained from rice husk by stepwise pyrolysis. The pyrolysis parameters such as the heating rate (11 °C∙min−1), temperature (700 °C), and holding time (45 min) were established. At the same time, the surface area of the biochar increased by almost three times with a change in the pyrolysis conditions. As a part of this research, the efficacy of adsorption of Cu(II) from Haplic Chernozem using biochar made from rice husk was examined. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to describe the adsorption data. The isotherm data of heavy metals was better fitted to the Langmuir adsorption model. The addition of rice husk biochar to the soil presented greater removal efficiencies of Cu(II) than soil in pure form. The analysis of the structural characteristics of the sorbent suggest that this material may work efficiently for the restoration of contaminated soil.

Effects of variable amounts of volatiles in corncob on microwave co-pyrolysis of low-rank coal and corncob

Crop waste-assisted microwave pyrolysis of low-rank coal (LRC) can provide sufficient hydrogen for thermal decomposition reactions of LRC, which can change the pyrolysis reactions and product characteristics. To reveal the effect of crop waste as a hydrogen supply on the microwave pyrolysis of LRC, the temperature-rise characteristics, product distribution, and product characteristics of microwave co-pyrolysis of LRC and corncob (CR) with different amounts of volatiles were investigated in detail, and the crystal and chemical structures of char and tar were analyzed. The results showed that the volatiles in CR promoted the production of tar and inhibited the generation of pyrolysis gas within a certain range during microwave co-pyrolysis; however, the volatiles had the opposite effect beyond this range. With an increase in volatiles in CR, the yields of char and pyrolysis water gradually decreased and increased, respectively. CR with low amounts of volatiles at high final pyrolysis temperatures increased the specific surface area and total pore volume of the char obtained by microwave co-pyrolysis and improved the aromaticity and graphitization of char and the ordered structure of the crystal structure in char. Additionally, the formation of aromatic structures in the tar was promoted, and the contents of oxygen-containing functional groups and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the tar were reduced. The fraction of light oil in the tar increased by 18.49%, indicating that the lightness and stability of the tar significantly increased. These findings have provided a theoretical basis for microwave co-pyrolysis of LRC and crop wastes, as well as experimental evidence for regulating its product characteristics.

EN Condition and prospective directions of development of renewable energy in Ukraine

The problem of rational use of energy resources, increasing the level of energy efficiency and energy security is a necessary condition for the harmonious economic and social development of Ukraine. Renewable energy is a global trend and one of the most promising energy industries in the world. "Green" energy is able to provide the energy needs of all mankind and therefore requires significant attention. Its environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness speak for themselves, as a result, today all developed countries are taking a cue from the popularization and development of renewable energy, and Ukraine is no exception. Ukraine has significant potential in the field of renewable energy, as evidenced by the main indicators of capacity, production and consumption. It is worth noting the investment attractiveness of this industry. In the paper has been investigated the role of renewable energy sources in the energy balance of Ukraine.The process of carrying out was accompanied by the use of the following general scientific and special research methods, in particular: analysis, synthesis, comparison during the study of the world experience in the development of renewable energy and the determination of promising directions of development. development of renewable energy sources in Ukraine; comparative and retrospective analysis and abstraction to determine the main trends and features of the development of the renewable energy sector of Ukraine, as well as to assess the investment opportunities of entrepreneurship; mathematical modeling to justify the energy and economic efficiency of bioenergy development in Ukraine; economic and statistical - to assess the state of renewable energy in Ukraine; tabular and graphic - for visual display of statistical material and schematic display of theoretical and practical provisions of the study. The segmentation of renewable energy and the analysis of capacities made it possible to determine the main prospects and directions of investment in the industry, based on the example of world experience, and the role of investments for the development of this industry was determined. The paper was carried out an assessment of the development potential of bioenergy in Ukraine based on agricultural crop waste

Noncommunicable diseases associated with household air pollution from biomass fuel in South-East Asia region

Introduction: The WHO states that around 2.6 billion people still cook using solid fuels (such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal, and dung) and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves. Evidence suggests that exposure to indoor air pollution by biomass fuel cooking is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, hypertension, depression, breast cancer, and cataract. This systematic review aims at providing evidence-based insight into indoor air pollution by comprehensively assessing the association of major noncommunicable diseases with the household air pollution from biomass solid fuel. Methods and Analysis: We will undertake a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, OVID, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library from January 2000 to April 2022. The study designs to be included will be cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and randomized controlled trials. Subgroup analyses will be performed, and sensitivity analyses will be conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Ethics and Dissemination: No ethical issues are foreseen. Dissemination will be done by submitting scientific articles to academic peer-reviewed journals. We will present the results at relevant conferences and meetings. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Conclusion: This systematic review will collate empirical evidence to assess the association of NCDs with the household air pollution from biomass fuel. Prospero Registration: CRD42022356857.

Thermal insulation material based on reed and straw fibres bonded with sodium silicate and rosin

The most used insulating materials have advantageous characteristics for construction, such as low cost, but at the same time, have significant disadvantages such as the environmental footprint. Plant raw materials are a significant reserve for the production of thermal insulation materials in various regions of the world. The results of practical experimental studies indicate promising results on the use of crop waste as a raw material for obtaining thermal insulation materials with high thermal insulation characteristics.

Soil Biochar Application: Assessment of the Effects on Soil Water Properties, Plant Physiological Status, and Yield of Super-Intensive Olive Groves under Controlled Irrigation Conditions

The effects of olive waste biochar and green compost as soil amendments on soil physical properties, as well as on physiological parameters and yield of a super-intensive olive crop cultivated under deficit irrigation conditions, were investigated in south-west Spain during the 2021 growing season. Thus, soils were amended with 40 t ha−1 of olive pomace waste biochar, green-compost, or a biochar-compost mixture (50% w/w), and no amended plots were used as control. On a bi-monthly basis, soil pH, water holding capacity, humidity, and resistance to penetrability were determined. In addition, various indicators of the physiological status and water stress of the plant were also monitored. Finally, the olive yield per tree was measured. Results showed that biochar application was the most effective amendment for increasing soil moisture and reducing soil compaction. The latter was evidenced by the significant reduction of the resistance to the penetrability of the amended soils. Plants of the amended plots showed better leaf water potential. In addition, values of the net photosynthesis rate, the average intrinsic water-use efficiency, and the maximum rate of electron transport in the time before the harvest improved significantly in the trees from the biochar-amended plots, for which olive fruit yields increased by about 15% in comparison with the other treatments. Nevertheless, the estimated net oil yield per tree was similar because the olives from the biochar-amended trees contained more moisture. This field trial shows for the first time that by providing the soil with biochar from olive crop waste as an organic amendment, having high water retention capacity, porosity, and stability, it would be possible to reduce the irrigation water needed and maintain plant yields.

Detection of citrus black spot disease and ripeness level in orange fruit using learning-to-augment incorporated deep networks

Fruit infected by pests or diseases and fruit harvests with different levels of ripeness cause a lack of marketability, decrease in economic value, and increase in crop waste. In this study, we propose a robust and generalized deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model via fine-tuning the pre-trained models for detecting black spot disease and ripeness levels in orange fruit. A dataset containing 1896 confirmed orange images in the farm in four classes (unripe, half-ripe, ripe, and infected with black spot disease) was used. In order to prevent overfitting and increase the robustness and generalizability of the model, instead of using fundamental data augmentation techniques, a novel learning-to-augment strategy that creates new data using noisy and restored images was employed. Controllers using the Bayesian optimization algorithm were utilized to select the optimal noise parameters of Gaussian, speckle, Poisson, and salt-and-pepper noise to generate new noisy images. A convolutional autoencoder model was developed to produce newly restored images affected by optimized noise density. The dataset augmented by the best policies of the learning-to-augment strategy was used to fine-tune several pre-trained models (GoogleNet, ResNet18, ResNet50, ShuffleNet, MobileNetv2, and DenseNet201). The results showed that the learning-to-augment strategy for the fine-tuned ResNet50 achieved the best performance with 99.5% accuracy, and 100% F-measure by assigning images infected with black spot disease as the positive class. The proposed automatic disease and fruit quality monitoring technique can be also used for the detection of other diseases in agriculture and forestry.

Microstructure and physical properties of poly(lactic acid)/polycaprolactone/rice straw lightweight bio-composite foams for wall insulation

Using polylactic acid (PLA) as the green wall insulation materials have the advantages of environmental protection and renewable, but they are not widely used due to poor performance. To solve this problem, azodicarbonamide (AC) used as the foaming agent and PLA/rice straw (RS) bio-composite foams were processed using the moulded foaming method. And degradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was added to improve the performance of foams. After the addition of 40 wt% PCL, the impact strength, compression strength and water resistance of the foams were improved by 357.7 %, 277.1 % and 803.9 %, respectively. All foams exhibited excellent insulation performance of 0.038–0.040w/(m·k). Thus, this study provides an effective way to resource utilization of crop waste and prepare high-performance wall insulation foam materials.

Experimental study on mechanical properties and durability of grafted nano-SiO2 modified rice straw fiber reinforced concrete

• Rice straw fibers were pretreated by NaOH and grafted with Nano-SiO2, and modified rice straw fiber reinforced concrete (RSFRC) was prepared. • The mechanical and durability test of grafted Nano-SiO 2 modified RSFRC were conducted. • The experimental results shown that grafted Nano-SiO 2 was an effective method to improve the properties of RSFRC. • The research could promote the application crop waste in construction materials and help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and natural resource consumption. As a green building material, plant fiber has been applied to replace traditional fiber in concrete in the past years. In this paper, the rice straw fiber was pretreated by NaOH and grafted with Nano-SiO 2 . The modified rice straw fiber reinforced concrete (RSFRC) was prepared. The mechanical properties of grafted Nano-SiO 2 modified RSFRC were tested, and GA-BP neural network model was established to predict the compressive strength of RSFRC. The dry and wet cycles were carried out to investigate the durability of RSFRC. The SEM and TG-DTA tests were adopted to analyze the interfacial transition zone. The results showed that grafted Nano-SiO 2 can improve the mechanical properties of RSFRC. With 3% Nano-SiO 2 concentration used on concrete with 2% rice straw fiber, the 28-day compressive strength increased by 28.6%, and flexural strength increased by 27.9% compared with ordinary RSFRC. On the other side, compared to the ordinary RSFRC, the compressive strengths of grafted Nano-SiO 2 modified RSFRC were increased by 8.3%, 20.7%, 40.1% with 1%, 2%, and 3% of fiber added after 90 dry-to-wet cycles. From the microstructure of RSFRC, it was found that the content of Ca(OH) 2 was reduced, and C S H gel was tightly wrapped in the interfacial transition zone due to the grafted Nano-SiO 2 modification. This research could promote the application of plant rice straw fiber in civil engineering.