Hazelnut Shell Research Articles

Comparison of Artificial Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic Methods in the Hazelnut Shell Drying Process

Drying and storing food products have been widely used techniques for extending shelf life for many years. In recent times, there has been a focus on the drying of food residues, similar to the preservation of foods by drying. The process of drying a product involves reducing the moisture content within the product. However, the devices established to reduce moisture content are often costly and rely heavily on experience-based systems for determining the drying ratio. Therefore, in recent years, there has been significant interest in the mathematical modeling of drying processes and the creation of a model for system behavior using artificial intelligence methods. This study aims to model the drying process of hazelnut shells using artificial intelligence techniques, specifically artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic methods. The proximity of the models created to the experimental results of the drying ratio is examined.

Experimenting growing media through local bio-resources valorisation: A design-oriented approach for living walls

In the context of densely populated urban areas, vertical greenery systems are gaining momentum for their role in reintroducing nature and enhancing buildings sustainability. Despite this trend, the absence of a standardised methodology for designing sustainable vertical greenery systems and guidelines for selecting appropriate growing media for this technology are two crucial gaps in academic research. This study addresses this by testing six alternative growing media derived from local bio-resources (dried M. spicatum, hazelnut shells, coffee grounds, hemp stalks, grinded cork, and raw sheep wool) and comparing them with a standard growing medium. The experiment was conducted over 120 days, monitoring the health and growth of three plant species - C. comosum, S. wallisii, and M. spicata. Innovative tools, such as a multi-criteria matrix and the Mean Leaf Growth Index, were introduced to assess sustainability and plant development. The findings highlight promising outcomes for hazelnut shells-based, hemp stalks-based, and grinded cork-based growing media, showcasing their lightweight and stable attributes compared to standard growing medium and assuring good plants health and growth. In contrast, raw sheep wool-based, M. spicatum-based, and coffee grounds-based growing media present challenges in plant health and growth, despite interesting attributes concerning lightweight and low water demand. This research contributes to shaping a design-by-components strategy for more sustainable vertical greenery systems, emphasizing the crucial role of circular bio-resources in nature-based technological innovations.

The Effect of Pre-washing Process with NaOH Solution on the Surface Area in Activated Carbon Production

The alkaline pre-washing process in the production of activated carbon is an important step and a factor that affects the characteristics of activated carbon. Alkaline pre-washing is used to optimize the surface properties of activated carbon, increase its adsorption capacity, and remove unwanted substances.
 
 In this study, hazelnut shells were selected as the raw material for producing activated carbon. ZnCl2 was used for chemical activation, and physical activation was carried out at 650 °C. However, prior to the chemical activation process, a pre-washing process with NaOH solution was applied to remove acidic groups present in the raw material. The structural properties of the activated carbon obtained from samples subjected to the pre-washing process and those without the pre-washing process were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for surface morphology, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) for pore size analysis, and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for temperature-dependent mass loss.
 
 The surface area of the activated carbon produced without pre-washing with NaOH solution was found to be 770 m²/g, with a carbon content of 87.10% by weight. After the pre-washing process with NaOH solution and subsequent chemical and physical activation, the surface area of the activated carbon increased to 1935 m²/g, with a carbon content of 95.51% by weight. Therefore, subjecting the raw material to the pre-washing process with NaOH solution not only increased the carbon content but also increased the surface area value by approximately 2.5 times.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals extracted from hazelnut shells: Production and stability under different harsh conditions

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are biodegradable particles that have emerged as promising stabilizers for Pickering emulsions. This study investigated the effectiveness of CNCs in forming the Pickering emulsion from hazelnut shells (HS), an agricultural waste. Following the alkaline and bleaching treatments applied to HS, CNCs were obtained from treated hazelnut shell with acid hydrolysis. The physicochemical characteristics of CNCs were investigated using dynamic light scattering, XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. A high crystalline (69.6 %) CNCs with a spherical shape were obtained. Contact angle and interfacial tension tests were conducted and showed that CNCs had amphiphilic nature. Pickering emulsions were investigated for their size, zeta potential, and stability under varying CNC concentrations. The results showed that when CNCs concentration increased from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%, droplet diameter decreased approximately 1.8 times and zeta potential increased. Creaming was not observed during 28 days of storage in a concentration of 2.0 wt% CNCs. The CNC stabilized emulsions exhibited high stability within a range of pH, temperatures, and salt concentrations. This study demonstrated that CNCs extracted from HS as environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials, could serve as a new stabilizer for Pickering emulsions especially for high temperature and low pH sensitive products such as mayonnaise.

Preconcentration and determination of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions from wastewaters by using hazelnut shell biosorbent immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 resin

Hazelnut shell biosorbent immobilized on Amberlite XAD-4 polymer resin as solid phase extraction method was developed and used for preconcentration of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Concentrations of analytes in solutions were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after extraction with column technique. Functional groups of nutshell biosorbent immobilized on resin were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Optimized critical parameters for preconcentration of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from sample solutions with nutshell immobilized on the resin were the pH value of solution, type of eluent solutions, the flow rate of sample solution, quantities of nutshell biosorbent, Amberlite XAD-4 resin, and enrichment factors, respectively. Detection limits of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions found were 0.29 μg L-1 and 0.25 μg L-1, respectively. The method proposed was applied for determinations of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions in standard reference material (BCR-670 aquatic plant sample) for accuracy and applied to real water samples such as wastewater and Van lake water. At the 95% confidence level, relative standard deviations (RSDs) were found as 1.44% for Cd2+ and 1.21% for Cu2+ ions with three replicate measurements.

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

The present work investigates the feasibility of producing boards, with unconventional materials, namely hazelnut shells as a high-mass bio-aggregate and a sodium silicate solution as a no-toxic adhesive, and discusses possible applications based on an extensive characterization. The aim is to define a feasible reuse of a largely produced agro-industrial by-product to reduce the high environmental impact caused by both the construction and the agriculture sectors, by proposing a building composite that improves indoor comfort. The presented combination of aggregate-adhesive generated a product with characteristics interesting to explore. The thermal conductivity is moderated, and the composite achieved values of σmax = 0.39 N/mm² for flexural strength and σmax = 2.1 N/mm² for compressive strength, but it showed high sorption capacity with a moisture buffering value of about 3.45 g/(m² %RH), and a peak of sound absorption between 700 and 900 Hz. Therefore, the boards' most promising performance parameters seem to be their high hygroscopicity and acoustic absorption behaviour, namely in the frequency range of the human voice. Hence, the proposed composite could improve indoor comfort if applied as an internal coating board.

Low tar yield and high energy conversion efficiency in a continuous pyrolysis reactor with modified ribbon screw conveyor

The high temperature batch and continuous pyrolysis of rice husk, sewage sludge, composite waste, hazelnut and apricot kernel shell were performed at 850 °C in a rotating batch reactor and a continuous reactor with a modified ribbon screw conveyor. Batch results were used in the continuous reactor design and comparison. At the continuous pyrolysis experiments, mixing and conveying efficiency of screw and thermal cracking performance of reactor, heated gas line and cyclone were investigated. Each material was fed into the reactor continuously with a feed rate of 4.5 kg/h for 3.5 h, and then the pipelines and reactor were monitored and collected tar and char were analyzed. The mixing unit and uninterrupted heated system showed excellent performance on tar reduction and tar yields were lower than 1.7 % for all materials. Separation of char dust from the gas without tar condensation in a heated cyclone prevented blocking in gas lines. With the secondary reactions syngas energy conversion efficiency for rice husk, sewage sludge, composite waste, hazelnut shell, and apricot kernel shell were 67.76 %, 59.22 %, 76.35 %, 56.96 %, 61.98 % respectively. With the new design with a modified ribbon screw, different types of materials were decomposed with minimum char yield in less than 15 min without mechanical problems. The high capacity of the installed reactor as 1–10 kg/h moved the technology readiness level (TRL) to 5 and set an example for demonstration in operational environment.

Removal of cationic dye pollutants from wastewater with HS loaded semi-IPN composites: kinetic and thermodynamic studies.

In this study, methylene blue (MB) pollutant in water was removed using produced hazelnut shell loaded semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (HS loaded semi-IPN) adsorbent. The physical and chemical characterizations of the adsorbents were investigated using TGA, DSC, FT-IR, BET, FE-SEM, and EDX. Experimental parameters such as temperature, swelling, dye concentration, contact time, pH solution, and adsorbent dosage for MB adsorption were thoroughly investigated. It was determined that the HS loaded semi-IPN adsorbent removed 92.1% of MB dye. Subsequently, the adsorption properties between the adsorbent and dye were investigated in detail using several different kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic models. As a result of the obtained data, the interaction between adsorbent and dye molecules is discussed. Moreover, studies on the industrial usability of the adsorbent have been carried out, and it has been observed that the adsorbent can be employed even after four cycles.

Lignin recovery from hazelnut shells

Lignin recovery from hazelnut shells

Changes in Physico-Chemical Properties of a Sandy Loam Soil Depending on the Particle Size of Hazelnut Shell-Derived Biochar

This study evaluated the effects of hazelnut shell-derived biochar particle sizes on the soil’s physical and chemical properties, and on various nutrient contents present in the sandy loamy soils. For this purpose, an incubation experiment in the plastic high tunnel has been performed under sixteen treatments (control-only soil), and at four incubation times (30, 60, 90, and 120 d), by using three different biochar sizes (≤ 1, 1 - 2, and 2 - 4 mm). The addition of 1 - 2 and 2 - 4 mm biochar during the incubation time decreased the bulk density in the soil by 26%. The particle size ≤ 1 mm on the other hand, increased the available water content, percentage of aeration porosity, and macropore, but decreased the micropore percentage in the soil. The soil’s pH has been the highest at 1 - 2 mm, 120 d sample, organic matter content at ≤ 1 mm, 120 d sample, and total nitrogen at ≤ 1 mm, 60 d sample. Regarding the available phosphorus and extractable potassium contents, the most effective particle size has been ≤ 1 mm and the incubation period has been 90 d for P and 60 d for K. The reduction in biochar particle size decreased the soil’s micro element content. The results showed that among all applications ≤ 1 mm biochar particle size was the most effective size on many physico-chemical properties of sandy loam soils. Also, a potential study related to the subject of this research focusing on the effects of different textures of particle sizes derived from hazelnut shell biochars.

Possibilities of using organic wastes as a growing medium in soilless culture for cut flower rose

The possibilities of using organic wastes, such as hazelnut shells (HS), walnut shells (WS), hazelnut skins (HzS), and spent mushroom compost (SMC), as growth medium in cut flower rose cultivation in soilless substrate culture were investigated. The parameters, such as the date of cutting the flower (day), flower stem length (cm), flower stem diameter (mm), flower length (cm), flower diameter (cm), flower color, color of the top and bottom of the leaf, and yield (piece), were examined. In addition, samples taken from the growth medium at the beginning and ending stages of the experiment were analyzed. The first flowers were cut from the HzS +P medium 38 days after planting. The highest yield value (20.6 flower/plant) was obtained from SMC medium. The longest flowers (63.89 ± 0.947 cm) and the thickest stem flowers (5.86 ± 0.136 mm) were cut from the control medium. It was determined that the media also affected the flower and leaf colors. According to the results obtained, SMC and HzS+perlite mediums can be recommended as an alternative to cocopeat in the production of cut roses in soilless substrate culture.

Breakthrough curve analysis of phosphorylated hazelnut shell waste in column operation for continuous harvesting of lithium from water

In batch-scale operations, biosorption employing phosphorylated hazelnut shell waste (FHS) revealed excellent lithium removal and recovery efficiency. Scaling up and implementing packed bed column systems necessitates further design and performance optimization. Lithium biosorption via FHS was investigated utilizing a continuous-flow packed-bed column operated under various flow rates and bed heights to remove Li to ultra-low levels and recover it. The Li biosorption capacity of the FHS column was unaffected by the bed height, however, when the flow rate was increased, the capacity of the FHS column decreased. The breakthrough time, exhaustion time, and uptake capacity of the column bed increased with increasing column bed height, whereas they decreased with increasing influent flow rate. At flow rates of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL/min, bed volumes (BVs, mL solution/mL biosorbent) at the breakthrough point were found to be 477, 369, and 347, respectively, with the required BVs for total saturation point of 941, 911, and 829, while the total capacity was calculated as 22.29, 20.07, and 17.69 mg Li/g sorbent. In the 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 cm height columns filled with FHS, the breakthrough times were 282, 366, and 433 min, respectively, whereas the periods required for saturation were 781, 897, and 1033 min. The three conventional breakthrough models of the Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Modified Dose-Response (MDR) were used to properly estimate the whole breakthrough behavior of the FHS column and the characteristic model parameters. Li's extremely favorable separation utilizing FHS was evidenced by the steep S-shape of the breakthrough curves for both parameters flow rate and bed height. The reusability of FHS was demonstrated by operating the packed bed column in multi-cycle mode, with no appreciable loss in column performance.

Influence on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete Using Crushed Hazelnut Shell

Concrete production requires a significant amount of natural resources, with aggregates comprising between 55% and 80% of the total volume. However, the over-exploitation of natural aggregates has led to the exploration of alternative materials for use in concrete production. In this study, crushed hazelnut shells were investigated as a partial replacement for fine aggregate, addressing the problem of natural resource depletion and offering a second use for this important agricultural waste product available in Chile. Hazelnut shells were incorporated in percentages of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% by weight of sand for water/cement ratios of 0.4 and 0.5. The compressive strength at 7 and 28 days and bending strength at 28 days were determined, alongside physical properties such as the workability, temperature, air content, fresh density, and hardened density of the concrete. Our findings showed that replacing 2.5% of the fine aggregate with hazelnut shells led to a higher compressive strength at 28 days, exceeding the strength of the standard specimens by 9.5%, whereas replacing 5% of the fine aggregate led to the highest bending strength, exceeding the strength of the standard specimens by 3.5%. Moreover, the 0.4 w/c ratio consistently led to better results for both compressive and bending strength, with fewer and lower reductions in mechanical strength compared to the standard mixture. Our results suggest that concrete mixes with hazelnut shells as a replacement for fine aggregate at a percentage of up to 2.5% can be used in construction systems with a compression strength lower than 17 MPa, and mixtures with up to 10% hazelnut shell replacement can be used in structures with tensile bending stress requirements lower than 6 MPa. Overall, the use of hazelnut shells as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in concrete production presents an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for the construction industry.

Effect of adhesive concentration and particle size on the quality of hazelnut shell briquettes with glutinous rice adhesive

One alternative energy that can be used as a substitute for fuel oil and gas is biomass energy such as briquettes. This study aims to determine the amount of heat, moisture content and ash content of briquettes made using hazelnut shells and glutinous rice adhesives that vary in adhesive concentration and particle size. This study used a complete randomised design (CRD) with variations in glutinous rice concentration of 20%, 30%, and 40% while the particle sizes used were 12 mesh and 24 mesh. The results showed that the adhesive concentration did not significantly affect the test parameters while the particle size affected the moisture content, ash content and calorific value of the briquettes. The highest calorific value was obtained by using 24 mesh particle size with 20% adhesive concentration with a calorific value of 5321 cal/g while the 12 mesh particle size produced the highest calorific value of 4704 cal/g at 20% adhesive concentration. The lowest moisture content value was obtained by using 24 mesh particle size with 20% adhesive concentration with a moisture content value of 6.9% while the 12 mesh particle size produced the lowest moisture content value at 20% adhesive concentration with a value of 7.4%. The lowest ash content value was obtained by using 24 mesh particle size with 30% adhesive concentration with an ash content value of 4.99% while the 12 mesh particle size produced an ash content value of 5.82%. The use of 12 mesh particle size is not in accordance with SNI standards because the heating value produced is still below 5000 cal/gr while the use of 24 mesh particle size is in accordance with SNI standards for all test parameters.

Hazelnut shell carbon filled polylactic acid composite filaments for 3D printing photothermal structures

Low-cost, compostable, high-efficiency photothermal conversion materials with shaping freedom into complex geometrical structures have received considerable attention by the photothermal conversion technologies. In this study, a kind of bio-based filament with photothermal conversion function for fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology was prepared by adding hazelnut shell carbon (HSCs) in polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The HSCs were obtained at 300, 500, 700, and 900 °C. The results revealed that the morphology, particle size, pore structure, surface functional groups, and degree of graphitization of HSCs varied with the pyrolysis temperature. Additionally, the three-dimensional (3D) printability of PLA-HSC composite filaments as well as the photothermal performance of the printed structures were affected by the pyrolysis temperature of HSCs. All PLA-HSC filaments were suitable for 3D printing besides HSC pyrolyzed at 300 °C. Furthermore, the fluidity of the composites increased with the pyrolysis temperature of HSCs. The rheology results demonstrated that the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus decreased with the increase of pyrolysis temperature. However, the mechanical properties and the thermal stability of the PLA-HSC filaments showed opposite trend. At the wavelength range of 250–2500 nm, with HSCs pyrolyzed at 700 and 900 °C, the 3D printed PLA-HSC parts demonstrated excellent photothermal performance with a light absorption intensity of around 93 %. Overall, HSCs pyrolyzed at 700 °C is the most cost-effective candidates for the preparation of PLA-based filament for photothermal conversion components. In this work, a brine evaporation crystallizer was 3D printed to demonstrate the application of this filament.

Development of a new insulation material from hazelnut shells (Hazelnut shell insulation board - HSIB)

Development of a new insulation material from hazelnut shells (Hazelnut shell insulation board - HSIB)

Home Trash Biomass Valorization by Catalytic Pyrolysis

With the increase in population, large amounts of food waste are produced worldwide every day. These leftovers can be used as a source of lignocellulosic waste, oils, and polysaccharides for renewable fuels. In a fixed bed reactor, low-temperature catalytic pyrolysis was investigated using biomass gathered from domestic garbage. Thermogravimetry, under N2 flow, was used to assess the pyrolysis behavior of tea and coffee grounds, white potato, sweet potato, banana peels, walnut, almonds, and hazelnut shells. A mixture of biomass was also evaluated by thermogravimetry. Waste inorganic materials (marble, limestone, dolomite, bauxite, and spent Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst) were used as catalysts (16.7% wt.) in the pyrolysis studies at 400 °C in a fixed bed reactor. Yields of bio-oil in the 22–36% wt. range were attained. All of the catalysts promoted gasification and a decrease in the bio-oil carboxylic acids content. The marble dust catalyst increased the bio-oil volatility. The results show that it is possible to valorize lignocellulosic household waste by pyrolysis using inorganic waste materials as catalysts.

Evaluation of iron containing biochar composites prepared by different preparation methods for H2O2 sensing

BackgroundThe procedures employed to prepare the ferrous biochar samples, the iron salts utilized, and their quantities have an effect on the surface characteristics of the material and the types of iron that will develop on the surface. MethodsIron containing biochar (Fe-BC) samples were prepared using three different preparation methods: Precipitation, Impregnation (IP) and Solid-state (SS). The iron content of the biochar (BC) was varied in a range from 6.5 to 21.0 wt. % by using a SS method that mechanically mixed FeCl3 and hazelnut shell (HS) in solid form. Significant FindingsThe XRD, XPS and FT-IR results showed that the magnetite particles (Fe3O4) were mainly formed on the surface of all samples, but their content was strongly dependent on the preparation method and the amount of iron. Additionally, the formation of Fe2O3, Fe2C, FeCO3, and FeOOH species on the surface was determined. The highest surface area and microporosity were obtained for the Fe-BC sample prepared by IP (Fe-BC-IP):850 m2/g and 0.28 cm3/g, respectively. A novel and fast electrochemical sensing platform for the detection of H2O2 with a broad linear range (0.5-10 mM) and high sensitivity (621 µA mM−1 cm−2) was fabricated. The findings demonstrate that the non-enzymatic BC-IP sensor is a useful alternative for measuring H2O2.

Recycling of Hazelnut Husk; from Bio‐waste to Phyto‐Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

AbstractIn the present work, green synthesis is utilized in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles with hazelnut (Corylus Colurna) husk which is the outer leaf part of the hazelnut shell and is considered bio‐waste. According to transmission electron microscopy and x‐ray diffraction analysis, the morphology of the silver nanoparticles synthesized by 0.1 g/mL hazelnut husk extract is found to be spherical with an average diameter of 6.57 nm and possesses ultra‐narrow size distribution. UV‐visible spectrometry reveals the absorbance peak range between 450–475 nm which is in the range of surface plasmon resonance peak of silver nanoparticles with spherical morphology. Antibacterial properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested on E. coli and significant antimicrobial activity was found with up to 79 % areal inhibition efficiency. The research revealed that the hazelnut husk extract, a reducing agent used in syntheses with different mass concentrations of hazelnut husk extract, also affects the size of the nanoparticles, allowing for the possibility of controlling their size. The antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles, synthesized in a spherical form of different sizes, correspondingly increased their effect on bacteria which is observed in the inhibition zone. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles, which can be used in many fields for agriculture, cosmetics, and medical purposes, using plant extract and minimal chemicals is crucial because it affects its toxicity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles with hazelnut husk not only reduces the chemical waste and toxicity, but it is both easily accessible and helps the environment and sustainability by recycling a normally considered bio‐waste by‐product of high‐value‐added crop to a technologically valuable product silver. Moreover, synthesized silver nanoparticles could be an essential part of applications ranging from antibacterial surface treatments to drug delivery systems.

Acid-Catalyzed Atmospheric Organosolv Treatment By Using gamma-Valerolactone and Ethylene Glycol For The Delignification of Hazelnut Shell and Precipitation of Lignin

Lignin-based biorefineries are gaining importance day by day to obtain many value-added products from lignin. One of the most important processes that allow the recovery of both cellulose and lignin in those biorefineries is organosolv pretreatment. In this study, organosolv pretreatment was applied to the hazelnut shell at 130 °C for 60 min with ethylene glycol and γ-valerolactone solvents in the presence of a catalyst (either phosphoric acid or acetic acid). The success of solvent-catalyst systems was assessed by delignification efficiency and lignin recovery. Lignins obtained by precipitation were also analyzed by FTIR, TGA, DSC and Py-GC/MS. Highest delignification efficiency (33.9%) was detected for ethylene glycol- phosphoric acid solvent-catalyst pair. It was observed that acetic acid was not an effective catalyst compared to phosphoric acid. The delignification efficiency of γ-valerolactone was low (< 26 %) under atmospheric conditions, and in the presence of acetic acid, lignin was not precipitated from GVL system.