Wood Pulp Research Articles

A ratiometric indicator pad utilizing Alz/BRI-PVA for visual assessment of fish freshness

In this study, a novel intelligent water-absorbent cellulose pad with a specified area was developed for the visual and non-destructive monitoring of fish freshness. The pad’s substrate was composed of wood pulp cellulose (WPC), and the specified area contained a ratiometric mixture of brilliant blue (BRI) and alizarin (Alz)., fixed with Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). During the freshness monitoring process, the Alz/BRI-PVA WPC pad exhibited a color transition from green to brown, followed by a shift to purple-red, corresponding to the increasing levels of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and total viable count (TVC). After testing, a BRI/Alz ratio of 1:8 was selected as the optimal ratio. Compared to the volatile gas-based sensing tags, the pad developed in this study demonstrated a high sensitivity of 53.4% by interacting with the sample exudate to produce signal changes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the developed dual-functional pad for water absorption and freshness indications.

Effect of microwave hydrothermal pretreatment on dissolution of composite components in Acacia wood and subsequent pulping performance

Effect of microwave hydrothermal pretreatment on dissolution of composite components in Acacia wood and subsequent pulping performance

Texas trade in forest products industry

Texas boasts abundant forest resources, providing substantial economic and ecological benefits statewide. This study examines the trends in forest product trade within Texas over the past two decades, focusing on key disruptions during this period. The analysis categorizes the forest products industry into two main markets: solid wood and paper and pulp, further dividing the industry into five core sectors. The findings indicate that Texas operates as a net importer of solid wood and wood furniture products while serving as a net exporter of wood pulp and, paper and paperboard products. Both import and export values have generally shown a gradual increase over time. Notably, Mexico emerged as Texas’s primary trade partner for both imports and exports in 2023. Additionally, Texas ranks as the second-largest exporter of paper and paperboard products nationally while also being the second-largest importer of solid wood products and wood furniture products. The study highlights the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response on Texas’s trade dynamics, emphasizing the crucial need for ongoing monitoring of trade policies and international relationships. These factors have the potential to exert significant influence on Texas’s trade landscape in the foreseeable future.

A deep eutectic solvent with a lignin stabilization and functionalization for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment

This study synthesized a functional deep eutectic solvent (DES) using betaine and glyoxylic acid (GA) for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. The Betaine/GA DES pretreatment resulted a high delignification efficiency of 81.89% and xylan removal of 83.25% while preserving most of cellulose. During pretreatment, lignin was stabilized by GA, preventing its condensation and introducing carboxyl groups onto its molecular backbone. The GA stabilized lignin (GASL), with a high β-O-4 linkage content of 62.92%, was depolymerized for phenolic monomer production with a bio-oil yield of 55.40%. Additionally, the functional lignin was used as a surfactant for GASL-based O/W emulsion (GA-O/W emulsion) preparation. With 0.5% of lignin addition and an optimal O/W ratio of 6:4, the resulting GA-O/W emulsion exhibited a high cream index value of 100% and excellent storage stability without any phase transition or emulsion aggregation. When using the lignin to prepare curcumin-encapsulated microcapsules, a cumulative curcumin remaining of 74.19% under UV radiation and an extraordinary encapsulation efficiency of 62.86% were achieved. Furthermore, this DES pretreatment promoted enzymatic saccharification of the pretreated cellulose substrate, resulting in a glucose yield of 91.49%. After adding 15 wt% of the fibers in soft wood pulp for papermaking, the tear index, ring crush strength index, and tensile index of the produced paper-sheets reached 112.04%, 98.58%, and 83.55% of those of the pure softwood pulp papers, respectively.

Evaluation of the antioxidant potential for three essential oils on the properties of wood pulp paper

Purpose This study aims to determine the efficiency of three types of essential oils (EOs) as antioxidants on wood pulp paper samples: camphor oil, clove oil and lavender oil. Because of the detrimental influence of the oxidation process on wood pulp paper, this type of paper suffers significant disintegration. Design/methodology/approach The evaluation methodology is based on scanning electron microscope and three directions laser microscope, the hydrogen ion concentration measurement, color change measurement using the CIELAB system and infrared spectrum analysis, as well as investigating the mechanical properties of paper as represented by tensile and elongation to determine Young’s modulus values. Findings According to the findings, camphor was an effective antioxidant for paper samples, protecting them from the damaging effects of oxidation and the impact of artificial aging processes while also improving the mechanical properties of paper. Originality/value This paper emphasizes the concept of using environmentally friendly materials derived from EOs, owing to their ease of application, lack of environmental impact, distinctive properties, low cost and distinctive properties in both curative and preventive conservation of paper manuscripts.

Long-lived superhydrophobic micro/nano-locked fiber membranes for long-lasting oil-water separation effectiveness

Superhydrophobic/superoleophilic oil-water separation membranes have great potential for treating industrial, domestic, and marine oily wastewater. However, the robustness of these membranes remains a challenge that restricts their ability to maintain long-lasting oil-water separation effectiveness. Inspired by the adhesion mechanisms of snail and tree frog, exploiting the synergistic effects of interfacial hydrogen bonding and mechanical interlocking, we herein achieved strong adhesion between hydrophobicized in-situ nanoparticles and textile fibers to fabricate a long-lived superhydrophobic micro/nano-locked fiber membrane (LSMFM). LSMFM maintains excellent superhydrophobicity even when exposed to mechanical and chemical damage, such as continuous sandpaper abrasion, tape-peeling, weight impact, water jet, and acid/alkali/salt erosion. Additionally, LSMFM efficiently separates various light/heavy oil-water mixtures, achieving a remarkable separation flux of >10,000 L·m−2·h−1 and an efficiency >98 %, even after 200 cycles with n-hexane. Importantly, such membranes still maintain a high separation flux >19,000 L·m−2·h−1 and efficiency >97 % after sequentially being subjected to acids, alkalis, freezing, and high temperatures, and even the adsorption bag formed by wrapping LSMFM with superhydrophilic wood pulp cotton can adsorb oil at fixed-point and continuously recover pure oil from oily wastewater. This study paves a new way for the sustainable purification of oily wastewater in extreme environments.

Cellulose nanofibers-based UV resistant and hydrophobic wood coatings

Wood and wood-based products are regarded as sustainable building materials, nonetheless, they frequently need the addition of protective coatings due to their susceptibility to abiotic and biotic degrading elements. Among the coating systems, water-borne coatings are a better choice since the majority of popular wood coatings are solvent-based and release volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). In this study, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were isolated from eucalyptus wood pulp using a chemo-mechanical method and used as the base substrate for wood coatings. The effect of CNF dispersion with varying concentrations (0.5 and 1 wt.%) of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on UV-resistance of Pinus radiata and Hevea brasiliensis after 500 hrs of exposure was assessed. Wood surfaces without coating exhibited severe discolouration after 500 hrs of UV exposure. Only CNF-coating results in slight protection of wood surfaces from weathering but significantly increased water wettability of the surface. The incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles significantly reduced the colour change of the wood surfaces. As the concentration of ZnO increased, the colour stability and hydrophobicity of both the wood increased.

Wastewater treatment in the pulp and paper industry: A review

The pulp and paper industry plays a large role in global manufacturing, which creates significant water consumption and generation of wastewater that is filled with organic compounds and other chemicals. This paper will explore many different aspects of the pulp and paper industry such as raw material sourcing, manufacturing processes, environmental concerns, technological advancements, and the various wastewater treatment approaches. While there are many different methods to approach this wastewater issue, in this paper we will focus on anaerobic digestion, the application of biological aerated filters, and the use of constructed wetlands. The main material utilized in this industry is wood pulp, which undergoes multiple different procedures and processes to create the typical paper products we use every day. These processes, such as pulping and bleaching, create a large number of environmental concerns despite efforts to encourage better manufacturing practices and paper recycling.

Fungi as biotechnological allies: Exploring contributions of edible and medicinal mushrooms.

Edible and medicinal mushrooms possess excellent nutritional properties due to their incredible versatility in growing on different substrates and producing extracellular enzymes with a wide range of specificity. These features make them excellent candidates for various biotechnological applications. In this context, biotechnological applications using edible and medicinal mushrooms can focus on the bioprocessing of agro-industrial wastes, an economical and environmentally friendly strategy. This review, based on recent original research and scientific reviews, highlights the versatility and potential of mushrooms in terms of sustainability and efficiency. We emphasized the biotechnological applications of edible and medicinal mushrooms and their enzymes including food production with high nutraceutical value by enhancing the quality and flavor of food industry products. Other biotechnological applications addressed in this review were cosmeceutical and biomedical development using mushroom extracts with bioactive compounds; wood pulp pretreatment processes in the pulp and paper industry; bioethanol production; and bioremediation for decontaminating soils and polluted effluents. These applications explain how edible and medicinal mushrooms have gained significance in biotechnology over the years, opening new avenues for innovation. The current tendency to study edible and medicinal mushrooms has gained the attention of researchers because these are still less known organisms becoming an attractive and natural source of novel bioactive compounds that could be integrated into a circular model production.

Valorisation of sodium lignosulfonate from wood pulping industries for the enhancement of moisture management properties of nylon fabric

Nylon fabric has poor moisture management properties due to the absence of hydroxyl groups. In this work, an attempt has been made to enhance the moisture management properties of nylon fabric using sodium lignosulfonate (SLS). SLS is an essential by-product of the wood pulping industry. Various concentrations of the SLS were prepared in an aqueous medium, and the nylon fabric was treated with them using the exhaust method. The effects of the parameters of the treatment process are analyzed using Box–Behnken response surface design of experiment and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Upon testing the water vapour transmittance rate (WVTR), it was found that the SLS treatment is efficacious in improving moisture management. Water contact angle is reduced to 10.6° from 105.3° after the coating, which proves the achievement of hydrophilic surface. The average wetting time of nylon fabrics decreased by 78% after the SLS treatment. A significant increase in the bending modulus, flexural rigidity, and coefficient of the SLS-treated fabrics is observed when SLS concentration is high. After the SLS treatment, wetting time decreases, absorption rate increases, spreading speed increases, and overall moisture management capacity (OMMC) increases significantly. The SLS coating over the nylon surface is found to be durable with excellent rating for light and washing fastness.

Exploiting the Properties of Non-Wood Feedstocks to Produce Tailorable Lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibers.

Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) are mainly produced commercially from treated wood pulp, which can decrease some of the carbon-negative benefits of utilizing biomass feedstock. In this work, LCNFs are prepared from non-wood feedstocks, including agricultural residues such as hemp, wheat straw, and flax. These feedstocks allowed for the preparation of LCNFs with a variety of properties, including tailored hydrophobicity. The feedstocks and their subsequent LCNFs are extensively characterized to determine the roles that feedstocks play on the morphology and properties of their resultant LCNFs. The LCNFs were then incorporated into paper handsheets to study their usefulness in papermaking applications, which indicated good potential for the use of wheat straw LCNFs as a surface additive to improve the oil resistance coating.

Monitoring the Sustainability of the EU Biomass Supply: A Novel Hybrid Approach Combining Tracing and Selected Sustainability Impacts

In an attempt to make a first step toward monitoring the sustainability of wood as (one of) the main element(s) of the EU biomass supply, a novel approach combining a physical accounting model with a material flow–life cycle assessment approach was used to trace the locations of origin of the wood and the associated sustainability impacts. Applying this approach to EU trade data from 2018, we found that around one-third of the wood fiber input in finished paper products consumed in the EU was imported. The main countries of origin were Brazil, the United States and Uruguay. We used Uruguay as a case study of an important country that provides wood pulp to assess the associated sustainability impacts. The results reveal synergies and trade-offs between employment, value added and environmental impacts. We highlight the need to analyze sustainability impacts in different dimensions of sustainability and consider not only territorial impacts in isolation but also from a global perspective in order to have a more holistic overview. Future extensions of the approach could include the coverage of other commodities, additional impacts along the global supply chain (e.g., post-use) and additional sustainability indicators.

Hierarchical porous MOF-199 mediated cellulosic paper for selective CO2 capture

MOF-199 is considered to be an excellent CO2 adsorbent owing to its substantial specific surface area, suitable pore structure and abundant sorption sites. However, powdered MOF-199 is prone to agglomeration and has poor recyclability. Herein, we proposed a MOF-199-based adsorbent by combining the MOF synthesis process with traditional papermaking process. Through such a design, MOF-199 particles are adhered on the surface of wood pulp fiber. The sufficient hydroxyl groups and electrostatic forces of cellulose facilitates the homogeneous and tight adhesion of MOF crystals. The optimal MP-4 sample demonstrated a high CO2 adsorption capacity (1.80 mmol·g‐−1 at 25 °C) and good CO2/N2 selectivity (30.06). Moreover, the composite sorbent can be easily regenerated. The adsorption mechanism was analyzed by the density functional theory approach. The simulation results showed that the carboxyl functional groups with a large number of oxygen atoms and active metal sites are the key to boost the CO2 adsorption performance.

In situ self-assembly of pulp microfibers and nanofibers into a transparent, high-performance and degradable film

Despite the significant properties of fossil plastics, the current unsustainable methods employed in production, usage and disposal present a grave threat to both energy and environment. The development of degradable biomass materials as substitutes for fossil plastics can effectively address the energy-environment paradox at the source. Here, we prepared novel micro-nano multiscale composite films through assembling and crosslinking nanocellulose with coniferous wood pulp microfibers. The composite film combines the advantages of microfibers and nanocellulose, achieving a maximum transmittance of 91 %, foldability, excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength: 51.3 MPa, elongation at break: 4 %, young's modulus: 3.4 GPa), high thermal stability and complete degradation within 40 days. The composite film exhibits mechanochemical self-healing and retains properties even after fracture. Such exceptional performance fully meets the requirements for substituting petroleum plastics. By incorporating CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ into the composite film, it enables dual emission of red and blue light, thereby being able to promote plant growth and presenting potential as a novel sustainable alternative for agricultural films. By assembling microfiber and nanocellulose, such novel strategy is presented for the fabrication of high-quality biomass materials, thereby offering a promising avenue towards environment-friendly resource-sustainable new materials.

Combination Of Makahiya (Mimosa Pudica) Plant and Garlic(Allium Sativum) Peels as Alternative Raw Materials in Organic Kitchen Towel Production

Although kitchen towels are a household necessity, they have also become a contributing factor to deforestation because they are often composed of wood pulp, making it the reason for habitat loss. This study was conducted to test the capabilities of the Makahiya plant and Garlic peels as substitute raw materials for kitchen towel production. The process entails creating three kitchen towel samples with varying concentrations and putting them through three tests. This study also utilized the quasi-experimental method to test the hypothesis and the relationship of the variables. While conducting soil burial testing in one of the researchers’ residences, the researchers used laboratory testing with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for absorbency and durability testing. The findings illustrate that cellulose from the Makahiya plant and cellulose from Garlic peels work well together as an alternative raw material for kitchen towel-making. Researchers concluded that a 30:70 ratio— 30% cellulose from Makahiya and 70% cellulose from Garlic peels—was ideal for this production. The result presents a 1.13g average for soil burial, a 7-second average for absorbency, and 1.3 and 1.9 apparent elongation for durability. It just suggests that it could function as a replacement for those sold commercially.

Determining the Pulping Conditions and Properties of Unbleached Pulp from Uruguayan Pinus Taeda

Context: In Uruguay, numerous Pinus taeda plantations are at final-turn age, but they still do not have commercial destination and are exported as green-wood logs. For the development of this sector, it is necessary to strive towards a comprehensive processing of this resource. Method: This work focused on analyzing the use of Pinus taeda wood available in the country to produce brown kraft pulp with a kappa number of 80, which can be used to make packaging paper. As raw materials, we employed by-products from the mechanical wood-transformation industry (wood chips and thinning wood) and final-turn wood. Pulping tests were carried out, varying the alkali charge and the H-factor while aiming for a kappa number of 80. The viscosity, pulping, and rejection yield were measured in the pulps, and the pH and residual alkali content were evaluated in black liquor. Results: Based on the results, the best pulping conditions were an active alkali charge of 14% (Na2O) and an H-factor of 1260 for sawmill chips and thinning wood, as well as an active alkali charge of 14% (Na2O) and an H-factor of 1080 for final-turn wood. The pulp obtained with sawmill chips exhibited the most resistant fibers, and the final-turn wood pulp was the most sensitive to the refining process. Under the aforementioned conditions, the paper properties of laboratory-produced pulp are comparable with those of commercial pulp. Conclusions: This indicates that it is technologically possible to produce brown kraft pulp from Uruguayan Pinus taeda wood, with adequate quality to produce packaging paper

Reconsidering banning the imports of waste paper: The implications for the environmental, economic and health impacts

Waste paper (WP) has become indispensable raw materials for paper industry. China has banned all imported WP since 2021, this one-size-fits-all policy has caused wide debates due to lack of a multiple and systematic assessment. Herein, a three-dimensional comprehensive assessment of environment, economy and health risk was established to compare non-deinking paper (NP) and deinking paper (DP) with imported/domestic waste paper (IWP/DWP). Assessment indicated that IWP was strongly recommended for NP with 20.96 %, 17.39 % and 20.92 % lower than DWP in environment, economy and health risk, respectively. Although the health risk of IWP was 58.14 % higher than that of DWP, it did not exceed the threshold, IWP was still recommended for DP with 19.14 % and 4.18 % lower than DWP in environment and economy. Toxicity-related impact categories predominated at midpoint level, especially human carcinogenic toxicity (50.97–59.12 %), which was largely caused by the emission of large quantities of toxic pollutants from the key processes (e.g., electricity generation (25.14–38.28 %) and wood pulp (31.99 %)), especially chromium (VI) (51.08–60.21 %). While human health (93.89–95.1 %) dominated all endpoint impact categories, which was mainly attributed to the top substances (i.e., CO2) from electricity generation (28.47–42.78 %). Importantly, actual cost might be markedly underestimated without considering environmental cost, the ecosystems damage was the primary source of external cost, and the internal cost was concentrated in raw materials (47.57–61.67 %). The health risk of contaminants in WP was closely associated with their manufacturing process and raw materials. The major health risk resulted from heavy metals, particularly for As and Cr. In conclusion, banning all IWP should be deliberated carefully, high-quality IWP should be imported to decrease environmental and economic burdens via enhancing supervision, performing import subsidies and tax incentives, and administrative approvals (facilitating industry consolidation and merging small and medium-sized enterprises).

Cellulose Nanofibrils/Alginates Double-Network Composites: Effects of Interfibrillar Interaction and G/M Ratio of Alginates on Mechanical Performance.

Interfibrillar phases and bonding in cellulose nanofibril (CNF)-based composites are crucial for materials performances. In this study, we investigated the influence of CNF surface characteristics, the guluronic acid/mannuronic acid ratio, and the molecular weight of alginates on the structure, mechanical, and barrier properties of CNF/alginate composite films. Three types of CNFs with varying surface charges and nanofibril dimensions were prepared from wood pulp fibers. The interfacial bonding through calcium ion cross-linking between alginate and carboxylated CNFs (TCNFs) led to significantly enhanced stiffness and strength due to the formation of an interpenetrating double network, compared to composites from alginates and CNFs with native negative or cationic surface charges. Various alginates extracted from Alaria esculenta (AE) and Laminaria hyperborea (LH) were also examined. The TCNF/AE composite, prepared from alginate with a high mannuronic acid proportion and high molecular weight, exhibited a Young's modulus of 20.3 GPa and a tensile strength of 331 MPa under dry conditions and a Young's modulus of 430 MPa and a tensile strength of 9.3 MPa at the wet state. Additionally, the TCNF/AE composite demonstrated protective properties as a barrier coating for fruit, significantly reducing browning of banana peels and weight loss of bananas stored under ambient conditions.

Characteristics and degradability of laser print waste paper fiber reinforced PLA resin matrix composite materials

AbstractAs is well known, Laser print paper is usually produced with high‐quality chemical wood pulp. The laser print waste paper fiber (LPWF) is a high‐quality secondary fiber, and the research and development of high‐value utilization technology for laser print waste paper has attracted much attention in the field of renewable resource recycling. In this study, LPWF was used to reinforce poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites in the field, and the composites were modified with bioenzyme, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), and nano‐silicon carbide (Nano‐SiC) to enhance the interfacial compatibility of LPWF/PLA composites. The study systematically investigated the effects of various modification methods on the characteristics and degradability of composites made from laser print waste paper fiber reinforced PLA resin matrix. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the composites treated with CPAM and Nano‐SiC were significantly improved, with tensile strengths of 54.3 and 59.5 MPa, and flexural strengths of 85.1 and 91.5 MPa, respectively, and the water absorption of the composites was reduced after the modification treatment, while the thermal stability was improved. The degradation performance of the composites in various water environments indicated that the inclusion of LPWF accelerated the water degradation rate of the composites, with the maximum degradation rate of the composite reaching 1.26% in 30 days.Highlights Laser print waste paper is an excellent quality recyclable fiber resource. Four modifiers were used to modify LPWF/PLA composites. Characteristics and degradability of the composites were investigated. Significantly improved properties of CPAM and Nano‐SiC modified composites. The degradation rate of composites is increased by the addition of LPWF.

MODERN APPROACHES TO THE USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION

A review of the literature on scientific approaches in the development of composite materials and building structures made of composites is carried out. When creating and manufacturing traditional and new composite materials, for example, by additive manufacturing, and when creating structures and structures in engineering calculations, new techniques, finite element computational software systems, and neural network technologies are used, which are used in the creation of modern metal and composite materials, analysis of mechanical characteristics of materials, forecasting loads on the structure, optimization of structures and calculation of their construction characteristics. The distinctive features of modern composite materials are shown. The main types of composite materials are considered: talc, diatomite, calcium carbonate, gibbsite, barium sulfate, feldspar, nepheline, aragonite, calcium carbonate, wool, silk, cotton, linen, jute, wood pulp, asbestos, fiberglass, metal fibers, quartz fibers, basalt fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, carbon fibers, viscose fibers. The physical and mechanical characteristics of composite materials (based on epoxy, aluminum, carbon, magnesium, and nickel matrices) and traditional (steel, aluminum, brick, concrete) building materials are presented. The disadvantages of such composite materials as carbon fiber, fiberglass, organoplastics, textolite, carbon concrete, and polystyrene concrete are presented. Deformation diagrams of some types of fibers for composite materials are considered: high-modulus carbon fibers, high-strength carbon fibers, aramid fibers, glass fibers, and basalt fibers. The advantages of the system of external reinforcement of building structures with composite materials are described. Examples of reinforcement of building structures are considered: reinforced concrete reinforcement; reinforcement of floor slabs; reinforcement of columns; and reinforcement of brick walls.