Evaluation of mechanical properties of biocomposites treated with date palm fiber

The utilization of environmentally friendly composite materials for building insulation offers a practical solution to reducing energy consumption. This study explores the application of novel biocomposites, comprising cement, sand, treated (DPFT) and raw (DPF) date palm fibers and their influence on the thermal and mechanical properties of mortars. The samples were prepared with varying weight percentages of date palm fibers (0%− 20%), treated with NaOH, and possessing a fiber length of 7 mm. Water absorption, density, resistance to bending and compression, thermal conductivity and diffusivity were encompassed. The results indicate that incorporating treated fibers has a beneficial effect on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite when compared to using raw fibers. Additionally, higher proportions of DPF lead to decreased thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and resistance to bending and compression, highlighting the positive impact of DPFT on the composite’s thermal and mechanical attributes. Notably, the treated fiber composite significantly enhances the insulation capacity of the mortar

Positive effects of salicylic acid pretreatment on the composition of flax plastidial membrane lipids under cadmium stress

Interest in use of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) as cadmium (Cd)-accumulating plant for phytoextraction of contaminated soils opened up a new and promising avenue toward improving tolerance of its varieties and cultivars to Cd stress. The aim of this study is to get insights into the mechanisms of Cd detoxification in cell membranes, by exploring the effects of salicylic acid (SA)-induced priming on fatty acids and lipid composition of flax plantlets, grown for 10 days with 50 and 100 μM Cd. At leaf level, levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and neutral lipids (NL) have shifted significantly in flax plantlets exposed to toxic CdCl2 concentrations, as compared to that of the control. At 100 μM Cd, the linoleic acid (C18:2) decreases mainly in digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and all phospholipid species, while linolenic acid (C18:3) declines mostly in MGDG and NL. Conversely, at the highest concentration of the metal, SA significantly enhances the levels of MGDG, PG and phosphatidic acid (PA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly C18:2 and C18:3. Furthermore, SA pretreatment seems to reduce the Cd-induced alterations in both plastidial and extraplastidial lipid classes, but preferentially preserves the plastidial lipids by acquiring higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that flax plantlets pretreated with SA exhibits more stability of their membranes under Cd-stress conditions.This research was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology in TunisiaPeer reviewe