Agricultural Materials Research Articles

An integrated environmental-economic assessment of orange production in China during 2010–2020

It is unclear how agricultural materials use affects environmental sustainability, carbon emissions and economic benefit of fruit plantation as well as relationships among the three aspects. To address these issues, Chinese orange production, as a study case, was investigated through combination of emergy method, carbon footprint and economic analysis, as well as the proposed co-benefit index based on emergy-carbon-economy. This evaluation framework was applied to assess orange production in Chinese seven provinces during 2010–2020. On average, Jiangxi has the highest emergy sustainability level (0.14) while Guangxi and Chongqing show the lowest level (0.08). Chongqing and Guangdong achieve the best and the worst economic benefit (3.34 vs. 1.78 in terms of Return on Investment) respectively. Hunan and Guangdong possess the lowest and the largest carbon emission intensity (0.11 vs. 0.90 kg CO2-eq kg −1 product) accordingly. Hunan and Guangdong achieve the best and the worst co-benefit effect (13.52 vs. 0.48 in terms of Co-benefit Index) respectively. Except Hunan and Jiangxi, emergy sustainability adversely affects co-benefit effect of orange production in the other five provinces. Carbon emission intensity reduces co-benefit effect of orange production in Guangdong. Economic benefit weakens co-benefit effect of orange production in Fujian, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong. The work proposed one feasible framework for investigating comprehensive performance of fruit production based on emergy – carbon - economy.

Harnessing Bacillus safensis as biofertilizer for sustainable drought alleviation in Brassica juncea L

Carrier-based biofertilizers, which involve the introduction of plant growth-promoting bacteria into agricultural industry waste materials, are gaining increasing attention due to their profoundly positive impacts on soil health. In current study, various carriers, including dry leaves, sugarcane husk (SCH), rice husk (RH), and a combination/Mixture (MIX) of all three, were employed to support the bacterial strain, Bacillus safensis (SCAL1). This strain was utilized as a bioinoculant in the production of carrier-based biofertilizers. This particular strain was sourced from the Environmental and Microbial Botany Lab at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. Bacillus safensis strain exhibited notable improvements, evident in a high rate of longevity and larger colony-forming units within the carriers, as confirmed by measurements taken after 21 days of incubation. The drought stress was induced using polyethylene glycol solutions with concentrations of 15% and 25% administrated 6 and 15 days after germination, respectively. Four distinct biofertilizer types were formulated in the study: DL + SCAL1, RH + SCAL1, SCH + SCAL1, and MIX + SCAL1. When applied to Brassica juncea L. plants, all of these biofertilizers demonstrated the ability to mitigate drought stress and enhance the quality of Brassica juncea L. The immobilization onto SCAL1 by using SCH showed the best result compared to the liquid inoculum as carrier materials improve stability and shelf life. Furthermore, our results affirmed that carrier-based biofertilizers improved biochemical and physiological attributes of plants during drought conditions, highlighting their importance as a valuable resource for mitigating drought stress in Brassica juncea L. The findings revealed that carrier-based biofertilizers are an excellent source of diverse phytohormones, which are pivotal in alleviating drought stress.

Современное состояние и тенденции развития сельскохозяйственной потребительской кооперации

Today, small forms of management in the Russian agro-industrial complex occupy a significant share in the structure of producers for certain groups of agricultural raw materials and food. Institutional transformations that have taken place over decades in the agro-industrial complex have shown the viability of such a form of organization as agricultural cooperation. The advantages that determine the competitiveness of cooperation include reducing transaction costs, economies of scale, increasing the share of rural producers in the final price of products, etc. Modern socio-economic trends dictate new conditions for the formation of food chains and the participation of economic entities in them. In this connection, there is an urgent need to analyze trends in the development of agricultural consumer cooperation. This will make it possible to determine strategic directions for development and justify relevant measures of state support for both small business forms themselves and the cooperative form of their organization. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze and substantiate the development trends of the institution of agricultural consumer cooperation, as the most important component of ensuring food security in Russia in modern conditions. Achieving this goal involves the use of general scientific methods of cognition (historical and logical, comparative and system-structural) and traditional methods of economic analysis. The trends in the development of the Institute of Agricultural Consumer Cooperation have been studied. A comprehensive analysis of the competitive advantages and weaknesses of small business forms in the agro-industrial complex was carried out. The potential for growth of the institution of agricultural consumer cooperation in the conditions of transformation of the socio-economic space has been identified. The experience of supporting agricultural cooperatives in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was studied. Measures of state support for the development of this institution that are relevant to current trends in economic development are substantiated. The results of the study and the conclusions drawn on their basis will be useful for supporting management decisions in the field of development of the agro-industrial complex, increasing the efficiency of planning and implementing state support for the small business sector in the agro-industrial complex

Above- and below-ground field study on the impacts of conventional and alternative mesoplastics on Hordeum vulgare growth and soil invertebrate communities

Plastic plays an important role in agriculture, but its use has become a concerning source of pollution. While new (bio)degradable, alternative plastics are being developed and used as mulching films, their ecological impacts, in particular under field conditions, are not well understood. Furthermore, there is a notable lack of knowledge on how plastic pollution affects soil invertebrate communities. Most existing studies primarily focus on microplastics, often neglecting the impacts of mesoplastics. This study therefore compared the separate effects of two conventional (polyethylene and polypropylene) and two alternative (polyethylene containing biodegradable additives and compostable polylactic acid) mesoplastic films on plant performance (biomass, seed yield) and soil mesofaunal assemblages in a field experiment. The mesoplastics were applied at 0.1% (w/w), prior to soil being planted with Hordeum vulgare (spring barley), which was grown to maturity, for 11 weeks. Generally, there were no measurable differences between the conventional and alternative plastic treatments, however, barley exposed to mesoplastics showed reduced biomass, seed yield, and chlorophyll content, along with increased oxidative stress. Soil fauna, particularly Collembola, had lower richness and abundance when exposed to both plastic types, but assemblage structure and composition remained unchanged after 11 weeks. This study is pivotal in highlighting that both conventional and alternative plastics can similarly affect plant health and soil ecosystems. The evidence provided is essential for refining future risk assessments of agricultural plastic pollution and underscores the urgent need for more sustainable practices and materials in agriculture.

An innovative functional compatibility strategy for poly (lactic acid) and polypropylene carbonate blends to achieve superior toughness, degradability, and optical properties

This study, for the first time, unveils the potential of dibutyl itaconate (DBI) in enhancing the compatibility between PLA (poly (lactic acid)) and PPC (polypropylene carbonate), systematically investigating the effects of DBI amount on the thermal, optical, rheological, mechanical, and degradation properties and microstructure of the PLA/PPC/DBI blends. The results showed that DBI could chemically react with PLA and PPC, forming a PLA-co-DBI-co-PPC copolymer structure, thereby improving the compatibility between PLA and PPC. When the DBI amount reached 8 wt%, only one Tg was observed in the blend system, and no distinct phase interface was visible in the fracture surface of the blend specimens. This indicated that at this DBI amount, the PLA and PPC had transitioned from a partially compatible system to a fully compatible system. With the increase in DBI amount in the system, the elongation at break and notched impact strength of the blends initially increased and then decreased, while the storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity showed a gradual downward trend. When the DBI amount increased to 10 wt%, the flexibility of the blends reached its peak, with the values rising to 494.7 % and 8494.1 J/m2, respectively, representing 13.7 times and 2.5 times those of the neat PLA/PPC blends. At this point, the impact specimens exhibited significant plastic flow in the direction of force, showing distinct ductile fracture characteristics. Meanwhile, the degradation performance of the PLA/PPC blends increased with the addition of DBI. The introduction of DBI effectively facilitated the penetration of water molecules into the PLA/PPC molecular chains, enhancing the hydrolysis of ester bonds, leading to a maximum mass loss rate of 84.1 %, which was significantly higher than the 20.3 % of the neat PLA/PPC blends. In addition, the addition of DBI significantly reduced the haze of the blends while maintaining high light transmittance, demonstrating excellent optical properties (light transmittance remained above 92.4 %, and haze decreased from 37.1 % to 11.1 %). In conclusion, this study provides a new approach for the development of high-performance PLA-based biodegradable composites. The resulting blends exhibit excellent toughness, degradation performance, and optical properties, significantly enhancing their application potential in fields such as disposable products, packaging, agriculture, and 3D printing materials.

Coupling of biochar and silicon for Phyto-management of Cd contaminated soil using Brachiariamutica

Contamination of soil with heavy metals is a threatening global environmental problem. With increasing urbanization, it is very important to design economical and environment-friendly mitigation measures to have pollutant free soil. Phytoremediation is an advancing technique to extract pollutants from soil to achieve eco-sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the combined impact of biochar and silicon on growth attributes of Brachiaria mutica grown in cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil. The biochar was prepared by co-pyrolysis of agricultural left-over biomass (rice husk, bamboo leaves and corn cob in a 1:1:1 ratio) and physio-chemical characters were studied by FTIR, SEM-EDX and proximate analysis. A pot study was conducted to evaluate the potency of biochar and silicon in lowering the Cd uptake by para grass grown under Cd spiked soil. Total 8 treatments were planned by taking 1 % and 2 % biochar with 0.01 % and 0.02 % silicon. The results have shown that treatment 8 (2 % biochar and 0.02 % silicon) exhibited maximum improvement in growth parameters such as shoot length by 2.64-fold and root length by 44.9 %, along with improving the antioxidant defense system of Para grass (CAT by 2-fold and POD by 56.4 %). Application of treatment 8 also decreased Cd concentration in the shoot and root by 48.8 % and 47.4 %, respectively. Treatment 8 was most effective in reducing CaCl2 extractable Cd in soil up to 56.1 %. Based on this data, treatment 8 was most effectual in suppressing Cd stress. Biochar produced from other agricultural waste material along with Si as inorganic amendment can be used to immobilize other toxic heavy metals at field level. Heavy metals immobilization potential of Si and biochar can be tested by harvesting other grasses and oil seed crop species.

Obtaining source material for cellular agriculture

Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) is an attractive concept for innovative technology with the intent to provide food and nutrition complementary to existing supply streams. The past decade has seen considerable progress in the field with advancement of cellular technology that delivers the initial building blocks for meaningful implementation. The availability of natural cell-based material that can serve as nutrient-filled source for human consumption at low cost is a critical challenge for the emerging cellular agriculture industry. Therefore, here the isolation of bovine myofibroblasts of the Black Angus breed has been pursued and accomplished together with its characterisation by using RNA sequencing and proteomics through western blotting.To transition CellAg from a concept to a game changing technology for the industry, multiple challenges need to be overcome. The field requires powerful initial material, i.e., dedicated cells that can proliferate and differentiate robustly at scale. The methodology described allows for the production of healthy cells, which have been unequivocally characterized as clonal representatives of a stable myofibroblast cell line using transcriptomics and proteomics validation. Stringent and rigorous live cell monitoring of a nascent cell line derived from healthy muscle tissue allowed for stable cell growth.In this research article, a simple and precise methodology is presented for creating a bovine myofibroblast cell line (Bov.mia). Our work puts forward a low-tech use of materials and expertise that is devoid of transgenic approaches, thus creating a reliable approach for lab-scale research.

Recent Advances in Superabsorbent Hydrogels Derived from Agro Waste Materials for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review.

Superabsorbent hydrogels made from agro waste materials have the potential to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental sustainability. These hydrogels not only help reduce water consumption and increase crop yields but also contribute to minimizing waste and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Recent research on superabsorbent hydrogels derived from agro wastes has focused on the preparation of hydrogels based on natural polymers isolated from agro wastes, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This review provides an in-depth examination of hydrogels developed from raw agro waste materials and natural polymers extracted from agro wastes, highlighting that these studies start with raw wastes as the main materials. The utilization strategies for specific types of agro wastes are comprehensively described. This review outlines different methods utilized in the production of these hydrogels, including physical cross-linking techniques such as dissolution-regeneration and freeze-thawing, as well as chemical cross-linking methods involving various cross-linking agents and graft polymerization techniques such as free radical polymerization, microwave-assisted polymerization, and γ radiation graft polymerization. Specifically, this review explores the applications of agro waste-based superabsorbent hydrogels in enhancing soil properties such as water retention and slow-release of fertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

Potential of Dioscorea spp. for Bioethanol Production Using Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation Method

Thailand is globally recognized for its rich biodiversity, a characteristic that extends to the diverse species of indigenous yams within the Dioscorea spp. genus. With the energy crisis, the selection of agricultural materials for ethanol production to replace the use of economic crops is therefore necessary. This research focuses on six specific yam varieties: Amorphophallus konjac, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea hispida, and Dioscorea esculenta. The primary objective is to investigate their bioethanol productivity through the implementation of a separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, with the broader aim of contributing to the potential preservation of these invaluable indigenous yam species. Initiating the study, the experimental samples underwent hydrolysis by alpha-amylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for 180 min, followed by glucoamylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for an additional 72 h. Post the initial hydrolysis, the detection of small molecule sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed a range of 14.49 ± 1.10 to 28.89 ± 0.03 gtotal sugar/L, with maltose emerging as the predominant sugar compound. Subsequent to the second hydrolysis, it was observed that maltose and starch residues across all six samples underwent successful digestion. The peak glucose productivity was attained at the 12-h mark post-glucoamylase hydrolysis. Among the diverse yam varieties under examination, Dioscorea hispida exhibited the highest glucose production, showcasing a hydrolysis efficiency of 62.53 ± 2.08%. Following the fermentation process with S. cerevisiae, the optimal fermentation time was identified as 72 h, at which point all available glucose in the hydrolysate was fully utilized. The bioethanol productivity spanned from 32.31 ± 3.40 to 43.66 ± 0.02 g/L, with Dioscorea hispida demonstrating the highest ethanol productivity at 0.61 ± 0.00 g/L/h, and a yield of 0.42 ± 0.01 gEtOH/gGlucose. These findings underscore the potential of Dioscorea hispida as a promising contributor to bioethanol production.

EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF EXPANSIVE SOIL STABILIZED WITH WHEAT HUSK ASH AND SISAL FIBER

Everything starts with soil. Being a civil engineer, we are aware of how essential soil is to construction, as everything is dependent on it. Before building any kind of structure on top of soil, we examine the soil's characteristics and behavior to determine its strength and ability to support the weight of the structure to be built on top of it. In this study work, we used agricultural waste materials, such as wheat husk ash (WHA), as a stabilized material in soil at different percentages of 5%, 10%, and 15% to perform various tests on the soil to determine its qualities or strength. Sisal fibers are inexpensive, readily available locally, and environmentally benign, making them an excellent choice for enhancing soil properties. The stabilizing effect of sisal fiber on soil characteristics has been experimentally investigated in this work. In light of this, an experimental study is carried out using pricey, locally accessible soil that has been blended with various percentages of sisal fiber. In the CBR mold and UCS sampler, soil samples are prepared at their maximum dry density (MDD) matching to their optimum moisture content (OMC) both with and without Sisal Fiber and WHA. In the laboratory, CBR and UCS tests are carried out in accordance with the proportion of Sisal Fiber by dry weight of soil, which is determined to be 1%, 1.5%, or 2%. According to test results, the amount of sisal fiber in the soil increases with its saturated CBR and UCS value. When wheat husk ash and sisal fiber are added, the CBR of the mix increases and the pavement thickness decreases, resulting in lower construction costs and ultimately, more economical highway building. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, WHA, Sisal Fiber

Sustainable conversion of agricultural waste into solid fuel (Charcoal) via gasification and pyrolysis treatment

Managing agricultural waste by burning it in the fields is a straightforward method, but leads to significant pollution. One promising alternative is to convert agricultural waste into solid fuel, such as charcoal, to support renewable energy from biomass. The quality of barbecue charcoal depends upon selecting suitable materials and employing heating methods to ensure efficient transformation. This research aims to study the charcoal conversion process from agricultural waste using two types of kilns: 1) direct heating (gasification kiln: GK) and 2) indirect heating (pyrolysis kiln: PK) designed to recirculate syngas from wood as fuel for the pyrolysis process. The study tested three types of agricultural waste materials, including coconut shells (CS), cassava rhizome (CR), and acacia wood (AW), to examine the differences in charcoal produced by the two heating methods. The tests revealed that the maximum temperatures inside the kilns were 792.45 ± 127.18 °C, 907.67 ± 37.3 °C, and 980.07 ± 110.56 °C for the GK, and 921.88 ± 57.84 °C, 801.93 ± 10.16 °C, and 937.82 ± 95.85 °C for the PK. The charcoal from the PK exhibited higher calorific values than the GK, with 7474.68 ± 36.62, 6429.04 ± 72.22, and 7268.33 ± 52.86 calories per gram. The charcoal yield was also higher in the PK, at 31.29 ± 4.39, 34.33 ± 3.39, and 17.58 ± 2.09 percent for coconut shells charcoal (CSC), cassava rhizome charcoal (CRC), and acacia wood charcoal (AWC), respectively. However, the PK required more fuel and longer ignition times. The resulting charcoal from the slow pyrolysis process in the PK is suitable as barbecue fuel due to its size, which is similar to the original material. In contrast, the charcoal from the GK, which tends to shrink or break into smaller pieces, is more suitable for grinding into briquettes. This study provides a guideline for producing high-quality barbecue charcoal, offering commercial benefits including the gasification and pyrolysis processes that improve combustion efficiency and reduce pollution by producing high-quality gas for fuel, unlike traditional kilns that emit a large amount of CO during the conversion of wood to charcoal and enabling the selection of appropriate raw materials for different heating methods to maximise the utility of the products. This approach adds value to agricultural raw materials and helps effectively manage agricultural waste (zero waste) for further utilisation and development.

Lung Lesions in Exposure to Pesticides and Herbicides (Literature Review and Case Report)

Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, zoocides) are mixtures of substances of chemical or biological origin used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, fungi, harmful vegetation, and other living organisms. These organisms damage crop and livestock production, degrade the quality of agricultural products, materials, and goods. Pesticides are classified into organic, and inorganic based on their chemical composition. About 1,000 active ingredients are used in pesticides, of which 310 are considered particularly hazardous. Extensive use of pesticides leads to the destruction of biocenoses and the emergence of various pathological changes in the human body. Among the pesticide ingredients with acute and chronic toxicity, abamectin, aluminum phosphide, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, diazinon, fenamiphos, malathion, methomyl, oxamyl, primicarb, propargite, tebuconazole, chlorothalonil, bromoxynil, bromoxynil octanoate, brodifacoum, and others stand out. In conditions of pesticide load on soils, the frequency of allergic and respiratory diseases is steadily increasing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), caused by smoking and pesticides, leads to loss of working capacity and social activity, as well as significant costs for treatment and rehabilitation. The article discusses the pathogenetic and clinical aspects of the formation of COPD under conditions of synergy (smoking + pesticides). Various clinical phenotypes of COPD are also considered. A clinical case of a patient with COPD caused by smoking and prolonged contact with pesticides (mosplan, zellek-super, goal 2E), which manifested with chronic respiratory failure, multifocal atherosclerosis, and heart failure, is described.

Analysis of Reasons of Breakage in Bag Production Machine for Agricultural Materials

Analysis of Reasons of Breakage in Bag Production Machine for Agricultural Materials

ASSESSMENT AND CURRENT TRENDS OF ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN UKRAINE

The research on Ukraine's food security is of paramount importance, as it directly impacts the national agro-food systems. The article delves into the current state of internal food self-sufficiency in the Ukrainian population, conducting an analytical assessment of export-import transactions with agricultural raw materials and food products. The findings reveal a significant trend of increasing food exports in recent years, along with an evaluation of the export-import coverage for the main types of food products. Ukraine's place in the world rating of food security based on the Global Food Security Index was studied. The fundamental problems and reasons that determined Ukraine's decrease in the rating positions and the level of food security of its population were identified. In addition to the military conflict, Ukraine has a low economic availability of food products for the population and a low level of sustainability in the domestic agro-food system. Despite the war's consequences, the agricultural business remains one of the most profitable economic activities in Ukraine. This analysis of individual indicators of the effectiveness of the country's agrarian sector as a basis for ensuring food security underscores the sector's potential. The modern production structure of the main types of agricultural products by categories of producers was studied. The key trends accompanying ensuring food security in Ukraine under modern conditions are summarized. It was revealed that food security in the crop sector is achieved at the expense of the public sector agrarian formations, mainly at the expense of households in the livestock sector. Based on the average values ​​of the actual consumption indicators, the state of providing the population with the main types of food was analyzed. The results showed problematic aspects in providing the country's population with meat and dairy products, fish, fruits, berries, and grapes. The priority directions for ensuring and strengthening food security on a national scale are substantiated. Among the main ones, the following are highlighted: the need to implement sustainable farming and animal husbandry practices, further improvement of the food quality management and control system, protection of biodiversity of ecological agrosystems, optimization and reduction of value chains, increasing the level of social responsibility of food producers and consumers.

Organizational and economic transformations in the agro-industrial complex of the region as part of the implementation of the federal project

Relevance. The agro-industrial complex is one of the key sectors of the country's economy and includes such areas as: agriculture (livestock and crop production), processing of agricultural raw materials, production of fertilizers, chemicals, and feed. The agro-industrial complex works closely with enterprises involved in the transportation, storage, and processing of agricultural products, as a result, any changes in the agro-industrial complex affect the country's economy.The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of the implementation of the federal project of the Russian Federation “Development of industries and technical modernization of the agro-industrial complex” (hereinafter referred to as the Federal Project) on structural changes in the agro-industrial complex.Objectives: consideration of the objectives of the Federal project, its financial support for 2022-2024, analysis and assessment of economic and statistical indicators, identification and consideration of current problems within the framework of the project.Methodology. The information base of the study consisted of official regulations, works of domestic researchers in the field of agriculture, collections of articles with collective authors, articles from magazines, statistical data, official websites of relevant departments and ministries.Results. There are many problems in the development of the Russian agro-industrial complex, but there are also many promising areas for its development. These prospects are determined primarily by state policy in the field of supporting agriculture, the goal of which is the development of Russian farmers and increasing their role in the domestic and foreign markets.Conclusions. A promising direction for the development of the agro-industrial complex is the revision of the entire financing system in order to provide business executives with funds for the purchase of mineral fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, materials, and high-quality feed in the volumes necessary for efficient production. Also requiring attention are such pressing issues as increasing wages for agricultural workers, which will attract young specialists to the village and, thereby, resolve the issue of shortage of qualified personnel.

Effects of Conservation Tillage on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Black Soil Region: Evidence from Heilongjiang Province, China

The implementation of conservation tillage is crucial for the preservation and utilization of black soil. This study examined 297 new agricultural management entities in five pilot counties in the black soil region of northeast China. Using the SBM-Undesirable model, this study measured and evaluated the agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) of these entities. We further employed the Tobit model to explore the impact of conservation tillage on the AGTFP. The findings revealed that the average AGTFP value of the sample entities was 0.4364, indicating a generally low degree of AGTFP that exhibited significant variation. Improvement in input indicators (such as machinery) and undesirable output indicators (such as net carbon emissions) was particularly needed. Additionally, conservation tillage had a significant positive impact on AGTFP, with a higher number of applied technologies correlating with increased productivity. Material subsidies for conservation tillage offered greater direct cost relief and had a stronger positive effect on AGTFP in comparison with cash subsidies. Furthermore, apart from policy factors, key production and operation characteristics—such as access to agricultural materials—also significantly influenced AGTFP. The results of this study offer a valuable decision-making framework and scientific reference for countries in black soil regions worldwide, enabling them to enhance the conservation and sustainable utilization of this vital resource.

Mesoporous carbon particles by biomass waste based on sulfonation and copper oxide functionalization as efficient and stable electrode material for supercapacitor.

Here, the hierarchical mesoporous-activated carbon particles obtained by KOH activation from pistachio shell wastes are modified by both the sulfonation process and CuO doping by hydrothermal heating (CuO@S-doped PSAC) for use as a supercapacitor. It is predicted that the electrochemical performance of the porous carbon electrode material obtained by such CuO doping and sulfonation process will be significantly increased with increased Faradaic capacitance. The electrochemical performance of CuO@S doped PSAC composite is systematically investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) in the presence of 1M H2SO4, 1M Na2SO4, and 1M NaOH as electrolytes. The CuO@S doped PSAC-based electrode shows excellent stability with high specific capacitance up to 397.16 F/g at 0.1 A/g and 92.64% retention. Furthermore, FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDS, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analyses are used for the characterisation of the obtained composites. Based on a significant supercapacitor performance, the synthesis strategy of carbon-based electrode material containing sulfonation and CuO modifications derived from agricultural biomass waste material is predicted to be a valuable example.

Integrated simulation method construction and process optimization for hot air drying of shiitake mushrooms

Currently, numerical simulations are conducted at the level of dryers without considering the actual moisture evaporation within agricultural materials. This departure from reality fails to meet the requirements of actual industrial production. To address this issue, this paper proposes a drying kinetic derivative model based on experiments conducted on shiitake mushrooms' drying kinetics. With the help of this model, we can determine the moisture evaporation rate under varying drying conditions. Based on the evaporation rate, a material-dryer integrated simulation method is developed to achieve coupling between the material and the dryer. Finally, the simulation method is used to investigate the non-uniform distribution of the moisture ratio of shiitake mushrooms in the dryer, optimize the inlet parameters of the dryer, and improve its internal structure. Through optimization, it was determined that the optimal angle for the baffle is 45° with a width of 65 mm, which can reduce the unevenness of moisture content by 25.84% and decrease the total drying time by 0.59 h. This research not only contributes to the thorough analysis of the distribution of various physical fields within the dryer, optimization of drying conditions, and structural parameters of the dryer but also offers valuable reference for studying and optimizing the drying industrial conditions of other materials. This research holds significant implications for the industrial advancement of the drying sector.

Design and Fatigue Life Analysis of the Rope-Clamping Drive Mechanism in a Knotter

A knotter is a core component for the automatic bundling of agricultural materials, and a knotter with double-fluted discs is one type. Currently, the research on knotters with double-fluted discs has gradually transitioned from structural design to reliability optimization. To address rope-clamping failures in the rope-clamping drive mechanisms in knotters, the specific failure position of the rope-clamping mechanism and the failure causes were analyzed first. The redesign of the rope-clamping drive mechanism in knotters with double synclastic fluted discs was proposed, including structure optimization and 3D modeling using the GearTrax/KISSsoft and SolidWorks software. A virtual prototype model of a knotter with a flexible rope was established by combining ANSYS with the ADAMS software. A rigid–flexible coupling dynamic simulation of the knotter was carried out using ADAMS, and the simulation results were used as the data input for the ANSYS nCode DesignLife module for the fatigue life simulation of the weak parts (the worm shaft) of the knotter. The operation test results for the rope-clamping drive mechanism indicate that the redesigned rope-clamping drive mechanism is reliable in transmission, with a rope-clamping success rate of 100%. The actual operation times for the worm shaft exceed the minimum fatigue life obtained through joint simulation. The applied joint simulation method has high simulation accuracy.

Characteristics of composite briquettes produced from carbonized banana peels and waste glass

Briquettes made from carbonized agricultural residues present sustainable material alternatives to wood charcoal and firewood for commercial and industrial applications. However, these briquettes are plagued by property weaknesses including low drop strength and thermal efficiency. Therefore, this study focuses on enhancing the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of composite briquettes produced from carbonized banana peels and waste glass. Composite briquettes comprised of banana peels biochar and waste glass powder (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) were developed, characterized, and evaluated using thermo-gravimetric analysis and bomb calorimetry to determine thermo-physical properties and higher heating values, respectively. The thermal efficiency and emissions (CO, CO2, and PM2.5) were assessed using the water boiling test and an emissions monitoring system. Proximate analysis revealed that moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash content of the developed briquettes ranged from 2.5 to 9.7%, 19.2 to 37.2%, 28.7 to 55.6%, and 7.2 to 44.9%, respectively. Drop strength for the briquettes was 84% without waste glass in the composite, increasing to 94–98% with waste glass included in the composite matrix. Higher heating values ranged from 20.1 to 35.8 MJ/kg. Thermal efficiency rose from 22% with no waste glass powder to 40% with 50% waste glass powder addition, while CO and CO2 emissions decreased from 41 to 11 ppm; and 50 to 15 ppm, respectively. PM2.5 remained constant across all banana peel biochar waste glass composites. Notably, even a modest 10% waste glass composition significantly improved drop strength and thermal efficiency, but higher waste glass percentages correlated with elevated ash values and reduced higher heating values. Therefore, the developed composite briquettes can be used in commercial and industrial applications including in some industrial boilers.