Rice Husk Fiber Research Articles

Assessment of the adsorption capacity of biochar samples obtained from agricultural biomasses

The study consists of adsorption tests on two samples of biochar, obtained from rice husk and coconut fiber biochar biomass, as well as a sample of charcarbon, both prepared under different conditions: macerated and non-macerated; impregnation with and without HCl and H3PO4; and washing or not with deionized water after impregnation. The test was performed in duplicate, for 30 min, with masses of 0.5 g; 0.3 g; 0.1 g; and 0.05 g, and an initial methylene blue concentration of 0.01 g∙L-1. The study was carried out with the objective of identifying, in the analyzed samples, the material with the greatest adsorption capacity of methylene blue dye, comparing the data with commercial activated carbon. The results identified removal above 70 % in both types of biochars, suggesting the feasibility of application as an adsorbent material to remove organic contaminants. The sample that most closely resembled the removal percentage of commercial activated carbon (98.84 %) was that of biochar obtained from coconut fibers, with 91.71 %. Thus, the research showed promise in studying the application and valorization of biochars, produced from agro-industrial waste, in adsorption processes.

Evaluating mechanical performance of coconut fibre reinforced polymer composites with variable fibre content

The rapid growth of composite materials, leveraging natural ingredients such as dried fruit, rice husk, wheat husk, straw, and hemp fibres, has expanded their applications and market presence. Among these, coconut fibre stands out due to its high tensile strength, making it a promising reinforcement for polymer composites. However, increasing the coconut fibre content can reduce the cohesion and some properties of the composites. This study investigates the impact of the weight percentage of coconut fibres on the mechanical properties of coconut fibre-reinforced composites. Various composites were prepared with different weight percentages of coconut fibre, and their mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile tests with a Universal Testing Machine Instron 8872 and hardness tests with a Digital Shore Scale “D” Durometer. The results indicate significant changes in tensile strength, tensile strain, and hardness corresponding to the weight percentage of coconut fibre. This research highlights the importance of optimizing fibre content to achieve balanced mechanical properties in coconut fibre-reinforced composites.

Experimental Evaluation of Adobe Bricks Reinforced with Rice Husk, Lime and Neem Fibers for the Construction of Sustainable Housing in Andean Areas

Adobe homes are prone to natural phenomena such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes, due to the intense rains that occur from the month of November to March. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of adobes reinforced with rice husk, lime and neem fibers and evaluate their compressive strength and water absorption capacity. The tests were carried out on adobes with dimensions of 10×10×10 cm3 made with earth, 0.75% rice husk, 0.75% lime and 1 to 3% neem fibers of the total weight of the adobe to determine the evaluations of the specimen. Therefore, a visit was made to the study area located in the province of Yauyos - Peru to classify the type of soil that would be used in the samples, then sift the soil to prepare the mud and let it rest for 24 hours. Then, incorporate the reinforcements and mold the adobes to let them dry for 28 days and proceed with the tests. The research recorded an improvement of 39 and 68% respectively on the strength of adobes reinforced only with rice husk and lime; and neem fibers after 28 days of drying with a proportion of 0.75% rice husk, 0.75% lime and 3% neem fibers. The absorption coefficient of adobes reinforced with rice husk, lime and neem fibers are between 16 and 27% better than adobes reinforced separately. Finally, this research will reduce the damage to homes caused by rains through the use of materials found in the localities and reduce pollution, thus creating a sustainable home with low costs for the inhabitants.

Compressive Strength of Geopolymer Mortar Reinforced with Rice Husk Fibers

Geopolymer concrete has been proposed to minimize carbon dioxide emissions related to the cement production industry. This environmentally friendly material consists of industry waste materials activated chemically by an activation solution. In this study, the geopolymer mortar has been designed with 70% fly ash and 30% metakaolin. Hydroxide sodium in 14 molar concentrations blended with sodium silicate in a 2.5:1 ratio was used as the activation solution. Rice husk fibers were added as reinforcement in (1%, 1.5%, and 2%), and waste paper (paper pulp and paper ash) was added in (1%, 2%, and 5%) by volume of cementitious material. The geopolymer mortar samples underwent a curing process through exposure to a temperature of 60°C in an oven for 24 hours. The findings indicate that the samples reinforced with 2% rice husk fibers exhibited the most significant improvement in compressive strength, with 59% and 55% increases after 7 and 28 days of curing, respectively. In general, using waste paper and rice husk fibers significantly enhanced the compressive strength of geopolymer mortar.

Mechanical Characteristics Rice Husk Fiber (RHF) Blended Recycled Polyethylene (RPE) for RHF/RPE Polymer Composite

This study investigates the mechanical characteristics of Rice Husk fibers (RHF) blended Recycled Polyethylene (RPE) to produce RHF/RPE polymer composites for building partition applications. The main objective is to formulate various composition ratios of RHF blended with RPE to fabricate optimum physical and mechanical properties to produce an RHF/RPE polymer composite. The significance of this research lies in developing a green polymer composite using natural resource materials such as RHF, which holds potential applications in Malaysia. Various ratios of RHF (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0% by weight) were combined with RPE to create RHF/RPE polymer composites. The RHF fibers were processed into fine fibers measuring 0.5 ± 0.05 mm using a high-speed grinding machine operating at 18000 rpm. The process involved blending RHF with RPE using a Bra-blender machine with a pressure of 20 kPa and a temperature of 120℃. The results indicated the composition ratio of 0.4 wt./wt.% of RHF/RPE polymer composite demonstrated the optimum density (ASTM C20-00) at 715.74 cm2 and porosity at 1.02 g/cm2, highest tensile strength at 0.60 MPa at tensile strength (ASTM D638) with SEM microstructure analysis confirming well-reinforced bonding between RHF/RPE matrix. The bending test at 0.4 wt./wt.% achieved the highest bending strength at 27.17 MPa, with a maximum bending strain of 2.41%, and the impact test (ASTM D256) demonstrated the highest impact strength at 36.16 MPa with an impact modulus of 1.25 MPa. It can be concluded that the optimal composition for building partition applications is 0.4 wt./wt.% of RHF/RPE polymer composites.

Stabilization of soft soil with rice husk and coconut fibre

Stabilization of soft soil with rice husk and coconut fibre

Comparative Review of Mechanical Properties of Rice Straw and RiceHusk Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite

Rice straw and rice husk fibers (RS/RH) reinforced polymer-based composites have theability to conserve wood and petroleum resources. As natural filler, rice straw and rice husk offer asustainable material for the production of polymer-based composites. The application ofbiocomposite limits the burning of straw at the root and may further enhance the socioeconomicstatus of farmers and rural populations. This review mainly focuses on five different weightpercentage of reinforced RS and RH fiber content (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) in polymercomposites. Nowadays, Epoxy, polyurethane, polyester, PVA, PLA and polyethylene are beingused as matrix material in polymer composites. This paper holds good with understanding themechanical properties, pretreatment methods and offer important insight into potential uses ofpolymer composites with biodegradable reinforce fiber.

Hydroxyapatite incorporation improves the physical, mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of biodegradable rice waste-based packaging

Biodegradable packaging is a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging but still has insurmountable disadvantages. The effect of hydroxyapatite (HAp) incorporation on the physical, mechanical, thermal and flame-retardant properties of rice husk-based biodegradable packaging was evaluated. HAp was obtained from poultry industry waste. The containers were obtained by thermo-pressing using 10%, 15% and 20% rice husk fibre (RHP) and incorporating 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% HAp. A 118.84% reduction in water absorption was observed in the trays with 5% HAp compared to the control. Mechanical properties were improved in the trays with 1% and 5% HAp (6.05 and 8.85 kg-f hardness and maximum tensile strength, respectively). The incineration time was 53.27 s in trays with 5% HAp; whereas, in the control trays, the average time was 35.16 s, and they also presented greater thermal stability. It was demonstrated that the incorporation of HAp in the formulation of biodegradable trays reduces their water absorption capacity and improves their thermal and flame-retardant properties.

COCONUT FIBER AND PULVERIZED RICE HUSK AS ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS IN CONSTRUCTING CEMENT BOARD

Improper disposal of agricultural waste is causing problems in the world today. Since it was seen that using rice husk and coconut fiber can help humans and their environment, this study investigated if coconut fiber and risk husks are potential alternative ingredients in making cement boards. With this, a quantitative experimental design was used to answer the questions this study sought. After the experiment, it was found that rice husk-coconut fiber is not feasible enough in terms of its flexural strength; however, using the rice husk-coconut fiber cement board for interior purposes is recommended. With the limitations of the study, it is also recommended for future researchers to survey rice husk-coconut fiber cement board to use variations with higher water, rice husk, coconut fiber, and cement ratio that can improve the strength and durability of the rice husk-coconut fiber cement board.

Enhancing the physical properties of cemented ultrafine tailings backfill (CUTB) with fiber and rice husk ash: Performance, mechanisms, and optimization

A series of experiments was conducted to study the performance and mechanisms of Cemented Ultrafine Tailings Backfill (CUTB). Firstly, the optimum fiber type was selected by single factor multilevel test. Secondly, the effects of cement content, rice husk ash content, fiber content and fiber length on backfill properties were analyzed by orthogonal test and microstructure test, and the influence mechanism of fiber and rice husk ash content was revealed. Finally, fuzzy mathematics theory is used to optimize the ratio parameters. The results show, compared to glass and basalt fiber, polypropylene fiber yields the most substantial enhancement in backfill strength. The increase of cement content, polypropylene fiber content and length can reduce slump, but the change of rice husk ash content has no obvious effect. Increased cement or fiber content effectively restrained the formation of primary fractures in CUTB, thus enhancing its integrity. Adding an optimal dosage range of 0–4 % of rice husk ash boosted the early compressive strength, albeiting at the expense of later compressive strength. Fiber addition with the optimum content range between 0.1 and 0.4 % enhanced the strengthening effect of cement content on compressive strength. Fiber primarily enhances the macroscopic strength of backfill through the dispersion and co-loading of forces, whereas rice husk ash enhances strength by optimizing void structure distribution. The optimal ratio parameters of a cement content of 310 kg/m³, rice husk ash content of 8.0 %, fiber content of 0.4 %, and fiber length of 9 mm were proposed finally.

The Effect of the Utilization of Sustainable Materials on Some Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Mortar

Geopolymer concrete has been developed as a means of reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions due to concrete manufacturing, which account for around 5–10% of the total global CO₂ emissions. Additionally, this innovative material aims to utilize industrial waste as a sustainable resource. This study concentrates on developing a geopolymer mortar composition comprising 70% fly ash and 30% metakaolin. The mixture also includes 14 molars of sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, saturated surface dry sand, water at a volume of 10% of the mix, and 1.5% superplasticizer. The solution-to-solid materials ratio was established at 0.55 while the ratio between sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide was established at 2.5:1. The geopolymer mortar was enhanced by rice husk fibers at varying volume percentages of 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. Additionally, waste paper, in the form of paper ash, was introduced as filler at a volume percentage of 5%. Following the demolding process, the specimens were cured in the controlled environment of an oven, with the temperature set at 60 °C for a period of 24 hr. Subsequently, the cured samples were stored for 7 and 28 days and then were tested. When different amounts of rice husk fibers were mixed in with a fixed amount of 5% paper ash, the flexural resistance of the geopolymer mortar increased significantly. After 7 days of curing, it was seen that the flexural strength experienced an increase of 4%, 13%, and 25%, and a further increase of 11%, 18%, and 31% after 28 days of curing. The results of the impact test showed a notable enhancement in impact resistance and energy absorption when incorporating paper ash and rice husk fibers. Specifically, the initial crack results exhibited a 50% rise, while the specimen failure after 28 days of curing showed a 66% improvement.

Optimization of physical and strength performance of cellulose-based fiber additives stabilized expansive soil

Expansive soils are known as geotechnically problematic soils and represent a significant challenge for both civil engineering and geotechnical applications. The primary issue with expansive soils is their susceptibility to moisture-induced volume changes, resulting in both shrinkage and swelling behaviors. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into optimizing the physical and strength properties of expansive soil through the use of cellulose-based fiber additives, namely bamboo fiber (BF), rice husk fiber (RHF), and wheat straw fiber (WSF). Various fiber dosages (5 %, 10 %, and 15 %) and sizes (75 µm, 150 µm, and 300 µm) were employed in combinations to identify the optimal conditions and analyze the soil-fiber reinforcement mechanisms. The experimental design was leveraged by the Taguchi method to optimize conditions, focusing on key response factors such as the Atterberg limit test (PI, LL), free swell ratio (FSR), linear shrinkage (LS), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and statistical analysis for results were validated by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Additionally, cellulose content and water absorption capacity were assessed to confirm the suitability of cellulose-based fibers as soil stabilizers. Hence, the results demonstrate a substantial enhancement in both the physical and mechanical properties of the stabilized soil with the incorporation of cellulose-based fiber additives. Specifically, the Plastic Index (PI) improved by 85 % when using RHF fibers at a dosage and size of 15 % and 300 µm, respectively. The Free Swell Ratio (FSR) witnessed improvement with WSF fibers at a dosage of 15 % and a size of 150 µm. Linear shrinkage exhibited remarkable improvement, exceeding 95 %, with a combination of 15 % and 75 µm fibers. Furthermore, the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) values were improved by more than 100 % when using 15 % BF fibers with a size of 300 µm. Therefore, the findings of the study highlight that cellulose-based additives as highly effective and sustainable alternatives for soil stabilization, surpassing the engineering performance of traditional soil stabilizers

Lignocellulosic fiber reinforcement in PPRC composites: An analysis of structural and thermal enhancements.

This study investigates the fabrication process of biocomposites and their resultant mechanical and thermal properties, essential for evaluating the performance of finished products. Polypropylene random copolymer (PPRC) was employed as the matrix phase, while rice husk (RH), a biowaste filler, was incorporated in varying concentrations. The rice husk fiber was treated with alkali (RHT) to enhance its lignocellulosic content. To improve interfacial bonding, maleic anhydride and NaOH treatment were utilized. Glass fiber grafted on polypropylene (PPGF) and talc powder functioned as additives. Both raw and treated rice husk fibers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and analytical methods to quantify the composition of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and ash. Significant structural changes were observed, with cellulose content increasing from 26% to 53%. Wood polymer composites (WPC) produced from raw and treated rice husk were evaluated based on morphological studies, Izod impact testing, water absorption, heat distortion temperature (HDT), and VICAT softening temperature (VST). The results demonstrated that the HDT and VST of WPC improved by 24% and 7%, respectively, compared to PPRC, indicating enhanced structural and thermal properties. Additionally, impact strength and water absorption were found to be dependent on cellulose concentrations in the biocomposite. This study underscores the environmental benefits of utilizing biowaste rice husk in biocomposites, promoting sustainability by converting agricultural waste into valuable materials with enhanced properties for various industrial applications.

Development and characterization of peppermint essential oil/rice husk fibre/ corn starch active biocomposite film and its performance on bread preservation

Active packaging with antimicrobial characteristics can inhibit bacterial growth and prolong the shelf life of packaged food products. Numerous attempts have been made to develop biobased eco-friendly polymer packaging films to minimize the utilization of synthetic antimicrobial packaging. However, polymer-based packaging has limited physio-mechanical properties, making it a poor candidate for packaging applications. In this study, an antimicrobial fibre-reinforced biocomposite was fabricated using rice husk fibre (RH) in the starch matrix to enhance the properties of packaging film. Peppermint essential oil (PEO), extracted from peppermint leaves, was incorporated into the film to enable antimicrobial properties. Rice husk fibre was varied from 10% to 50%, PEO ranged from 1% to 6%, and influence on various properties of biocomposite film was analysed. Developed biocomposite films were evaluated using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, water contact angle, and surface roughness. Furthermore, mechanical properties, water solubility, moisture content, colour properties, and optical barrier properties of biocomposite film were also calculated. In mechanical properties, biocomposite film that has 10% rice husk fibres, and 1% PEO showed the maximum tensile strength and elastic modulus of 2.25 MPa, and 57.4 MPa, respectively. In the biodegradability test, the degradation rate was reduced with reinforcing rice husk fibres and incorporation of PEO. The fabricated biocomposite films exhibit a zone of inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis) as well as Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and K. pneumoniae). Moreover, fabricated biocomposite was used as bread packaging and compared with synthetic and open packaging for shelf-life analysis. In observation, it was found that it has increased the shelf life of packed bread and reduced the growth of food-borne microbes in bread. This fabricated antimicrobial biocomposite is an eco-friendly packaging film that may reduce the food wastage and environmental impact of packaging materials by utilizing agricultural waste.

Lean Design of Alternative Packaging Cushion Material for Glass Bottles using Rice Husk and Coconut Fibre

In recent years, rice husk and coconut fibre started to have substantial commercial value in the industry due to the research being conducted on these agricultural wastes as a new raw material consisting of high fibres and abundant resources. Therefore, this investigation determines the suitability of producing cushion packaging from rice husk and coconut fibre while reducing the amount of pulping material required from virgin wood and the usage of petroleum for making Polystyrene. This study aims to design cushion packaging from rice husk and coconut fibre using the lean concept while studying the compatibility of these cushions as primary packaging. The cushion is designed using AutoCAD software. Three types of cushion packaging models are created using different compositions of rice husk (RH) and coconut fibre (CF): Model 1 (100% RH 0% CF), Model 2 (50% RH 50% CF), and Model 3 (0% RH 100% CF). Each composition is combined with 450g of latex adhesive and 50g of water. The impact performances of cushions from different compositions are conducted using the Drop Tester Model AD-100 Design Series 4410 based on the Standard ASTM D 5276 (Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall 1998). Model 2 (50% RH 50% CF) gave the best performance in the capability to withstand the impact at a fixed height of 92 cm in the drop test compared to Model 1 (100% RH 0% CF) and Model 3 (0% RH 100% CF). Thus, the composition of rice husk and coconut fibre is the most suitable as packaging cushioning compared to the cushion with a single composition of rice husk or coconut fibre.

Investigation of tribo-mechanical performance of alkali treated rice-husk and polypropylene-random-copolymer based biocomposites

This study was based on the experimental performance evaluation of a wood polymer composite (WPC) that was synthesized by incorporating untreated and treated rice husk (RH) fibers into a polypropylene random copolymer matrix. The submicron-scale RH fibers were alkali-treated to modify the surface and introduce new functional groups in the WPC. A compatibilizer (maleic anhydride) and a thermos-mechanical properties modifier (polypropylene grafted with 30 % glass fiber) were used in the WPC. The effects of untreated and treated RH on the WPC panels were studied using FESEM, FTIR, and microscope images. A pin-on-disk setup was used to investigate the bulk tribological properties of PPRC and WPC. The complex relationship between the friction coefficient of different loading of RH fibers in the WPC, as a function of sliding distance, was analyzed along with the temperature and morphology of the surface. It was observed that untreated RH acted as a friction modifier, while treated RH acted as a solid lubricant. Microhardness was calculated using the QCSM module on nanoindentation. It was found that untreated RH led to an increase in microhardness, while treated RH caused a decrease in hardness compared to PPRC.

Study of Improved Crack Toughness of Unsaturated Polymers with Rice Husk Fiber and Sago Flour as Strengthening Materials

The development of environmentally friendly composites from natural fibers is an absolute thing to do to replace non-degradable synthetic composites. Some of the weaknesses of natural fiber composites are low mechanical strength, ease of cracking, no moisture resistance, and high-temperature resistance. One of the things that has been done is to make a combination of synthetic materials as a matrix derived from unsaturated polyester reinforced with natural fibers from crushed rice husk particles and starch from sago flour which is used to reduce the percentage of synthetic materials to be able to form composites that are easily decomposed. From the research, it was found that the strength of crack resistance could be increased with a mixture of polyester reinforced with rice husk fiber and sago flour, obtaining an increase in crack resistance strength until the addition of rice husk with a percentage of 15%. While increasing the RH content above 15%, the crack strength value decreases due to the saturation of the RH molecules in the UP which is no longer bound to the UP molecules. The highest crack strength values occurred for the addition of the percentage of RH and SS to the UP material with the addition of 5% SS, which obtained a cracking force of 550 N while the strength of pure polyester was only 37 N. This shows that RH and SS materials can bond with UP molecules and some molecules of RH and SS can prevent cross-linking of polyester molecules. Meanwhile, the addition of SS up to 10% decreases the fracture force obtained, indicating that not all of the sago starch can bind to the polyester molecules.

Experimental Analysis of the Rice Husk and Eggshell Powder-Based Natural Fibre Composite

Experimental Analysis of the Rice Husk and Eggshell Powder-Based Natural Fibre Composite

Rice husk fibers and their extracted silica as promising bio-based fillers for EPDM/NBR rubber blend vulcanizates

Bio-based natural wastes could be considered eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fillers for enhancing the properties and reducing the cost of final rubber products. Thus, in the present research, EPDM/NBR rubber blend composites filled with kaolin and mixed with rice husk fibers (RHFs) were prepared. Homogeneity of the EPDM/NBR blends was improved by the incorporation of maleic anhydride (MAH) as a compatibilizing agent (1 phr), as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Of all EPDM/NBR blend ratios investigated, the 25/75 blend revealed good mechanical properties, thermal stability, and the least weight swell at equilibrium (Q%) in motor oil and brake fluid. EPDM/NBR/kaolin (25/75/30) blend vulcanizates containing RHFs at various loadings demonstrated a significant improvement in swelling resistance, primarily in motor oil and brake fluid, accompanied by a slight reduction in the mechanical properties at high RHFs content. That was complemented by the enhancement of thermal stability of the rubber blends, as demonstrated by TGA analysis. Among the filler types investigated (RHFs, silica ash (SA), rice husk silica (RHS), and kaolin), RHFs exhibited the best swelling resistance of the composite vulcanizates in motor oil and brake fluid. In addition, RHS could be used successfully as a supporting filler for carbon black-reinforced EPDM/NBR composite vulcanizates because it enhanced their thermal stability and swelling resistance in the motor oil.Graphical

Study on Increasing the Cracking Resistance of Unsaturated Polyester Composites with MMA and Rice Husk Fiber Reinforcement

Study on Increasing the Cracking Resistance of Unsaturated Polyester Composites with MMA and Rice Husk Fiber Reinforcement