The Effect Of Additives On The Properties Of Oil Palm Trunk Binderless Particleboard

In this study, the effects of additives on the properties of oil palm trunk binderless board were evaluated through a series of mechanical, physical and chemical analyses. Ten types of binderless boards from oil palm trunk particles were made that include control boards, boards with addition of additives namely xylose, sucrose, glucose and potato starch, boards made from oil palm trunk particles that were extracted with hot water, and boards made from oil palm trunk particles that were extracted with hot water with addition of additives

Isolation And Characterization Of Cellulose Nanocrystals From Oil Palm Trunk

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji sifat-sifat selulosa nanokristal (CNC) yang diekstrak daripada batang pokok kelapa sawit (Elaeis guineensis) (OPT). Enam jenis CNC diekstrak daripada OPT dengan menggunakan dua kaedah yang berbeza. Empat jenis CNC yang diperolehi daripada OPT secara keseluruhan iaitu nanokristal yang terhasil daripada bahan asal tanpa rawatan dan rawatan air panas serta daripada parenkima dan berkas vaskular OPT melalui kimo-mekanikal diikuti hidrolisis dengan asid sulfurik. Dua jenis nanokristal selulosa lagi diperolehi melalui pra-hidrolisis dan tanpa pra-hidrolisis air disediakan melalui pemulpaan soda diikuti pelunturan ozon dan dihidrolisis dengan asid hidroklorik. Sifat-sifat fizikal, dan kimia, sifat-sifat termal dan indeks penghabluran nanokristal selulosa yang masing-masing ditentukan menggunakan pengimbas mikroskop electron (SEM), penghantaran elektron mikroskop (TEM), potensi zeta dan penganalis unsur, Fourier transformasi inframerah (FTIR), analisis termal gravimetrik (TGA) dan analisis pembelauan sinar-X (XRD). This study investigated the properties of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) isolated from oil palm trunk (Elaeis guineensis) (OPT). Six types of CNCs were extracted from OPT using two different methods. Four types of CNCs were derived from the OPT as a whole that is CNCs from raw and water treated and also from separated parenchyma and vascular bundle of OPT using chemo-mechanical followed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Two more types of CNC with and without water pre-hydrolysis were prepared by soda pulping followed by ozone bleaching and hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid. Physical and chemical properties, thermal behaviour, and also crystallinity index of all obtained CNCs were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, elemental analyzer, fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively

Effect of Testing Rate on Adhesion Properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Standard Malaysian Rubber Blend-Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive

The dependence of loop tack, peel strength, and shear strength of NBR/SMR L blend-based pressure-sensitive adhesives on the rate of testing was investigated using coumarone-indene resin and toluene as the tackifier and solvent, respectively. A 40% NBR content in the NBR/SMR L blend was used throughout the experiment.The adhesion properties weremeasured by a Lloyd Adhesion Tester operating at different rates of testing. The result indicates that loop tack, peels strength, and shear strength increase with the rate of testing due to the viscoelastic response of the adhesive. At low testing rate, the failure mode is cohesive in nature whereas adhesion failure mode occurs at higher testing rates. Adhesion properties also increase with the increase in adhesive coating thickness, an observation which is attributed to the wettability of the adhesive and viscoelastic behavior of the rubber blend

Characterization of Cellulose Microfibers Isolated from Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)

Cellulose microfibers were isolated by chemical treatment followed by acid hydrolysis using sulphuric acid. The chemical compositions for extractive, holocellulose, cellulose and lignin were determined. The functional group of raw particles and cellulose microfibers of rubberwood were determined using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Morphological studies were viewed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to investigate physical changes of the fibers after acid hydrolysis. The results show that cellulose content was increased to 63 % from 52 % after hydrolysis was conducted to the raw particles. Particle size distribution of cellulose microfibers falls in the range of below 100 µm. The removal of lignin and other extractives during chemical and acid hydrolysis can be seen by the absence of certain band in the FTIR spectra. The individualization of the fibers can be seen after hydrolysis with sulphuric acid. The removal of the surface impurities along with defibrillation were also shown in the cellulose microfibers. Cellulose microfibers were isolated by chemical treatment followed by acid hydrolysis using sulphuric acid. The chemical compositions for extractive, holocellulose, cellulose and lignin were determined. The functional group of raw particles and cellulose microfibers of rubberwood were determined using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Morphological studies were viewed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to investigate physical changes of the fibers after acid hydrolysis. The results show that cellulose content was increased to 63 % from 52 % after hydrolysis was conducted to the raw particles. Particle size distribution of cellulose microfibers falls in the range of below 100 µm. The removal of lignin and other extractives during chemical and acid hydrolysis can be seen by the absence of certain band in the FTIR spectra. The individualization of the fibers can be seen after hydrolysis with sulphuric acid. The removal of the surface impurities along with defibrillation were also shown in the cellulose microfibers.

A review on bamboo as an adsorbent for removal of pollutants for wastewater treatment

Water and wastewater treatment are very important for obtaining clean and sanitary water as well as protecting the environment from toxic pollutants. Not only enriched with cellulose and carbon but the abundant resources of bamboo also make it suitable to be utilized as an adsorbent. With the right processing technologies and improvements, the potential of bamboo is unlimited. This study review provides knowledge on the use of bamboo-based adsorbents for the removal of contaminants and pollutants in wastewater in the form of activated carbon, biochar, and aerogel. This review highlighted bamboo utilization and its relevance as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment. The technologies for the processing and improvement of bamboo as well as the performance of the bamboo-based adsorbents are also discussed in this study. The adsorption capacity of bamboo has shown improvement with modification and good adsorption capacity achieved with some of the adsorbent being able to be recycled and reused

Vegetable waste composting: A case study in Kundasang, Sabah

Composting is considered agronomically, ecologically, and practically beneficial, with the end product being an organic fertilizer or soil conditioner rich in nutrients for the soil. This study aims to investigate the effects of adding chicken manure (CM) to vegetable waste (VW) and rice husk (RH) composting. This is a pioneering study on Kundasang composting, as well as addressing the vegetable waste problem in the community. The composting process was studied for 20 days in a 37-L laboratory composter reactor box with passive aeration. Four mixtures were investigated, each with a VW: RH (1:2) ratio and a different additive of CM (0%, 1%, 2.5% and 5%). The composting process’s performance shows that Mix-3 (2.5 % CM) is ideal compared to other mixtures, with the highest temperature achieved at 41ºC as early as day 1, resulting in a 28.12% organic matter (OM) loss. The OM loss value results show that Mix-3 (28.12%) > Mix-2 (26.14%) > Mix-1 (16.55%) >Mix-4 (13.33%). The maximum temperature reached was 41ºC, and the Mix3(41.3ºC)>Mix-1(41.1ºC)>Mix-2(41.0ºC)>Mix-4(40.7ºC) and decreasing near to ambient. The reduction percentage shows Mix-3 (13.92%) > Mix-2 (13.45%) > Mix-4 (9.24%) > Mix-1 (8.93%). Thus, with the optimum addition of chicken manure, the degradation is reflected in the high moisture content reduction rate. In conclusion, using CM as an additive has a significant impact on composting VW

Flame retardancy of particleboards made from oil palm trunk-poly(vinyl) alcohol with citric acid and calcium carbonate as additives

Flame retardant particleboards from oil palm trunk particles were made by treatment with sodium chloride solution, then bonded with poly(vinyl) alcohol together with citric acid and calcium carbonate as additives. Flame retardancy, thermal, physical, and mechanical properties were evaluated for suitability as construction materials. The novel flame-retardant oil palm trunk particleboard was successfully produced. Treated oil palm trunk with 20% of poly(vinyl) alcohol and 10% of calcium carbonate showed the highest limited oxygen index (LOI) with good thermal stability and potential to be used as flameretardant particleboard. Also, salt pre-treatment was found to enhance the flame retardancy of particleboard

Food waste-dry leaves composting: Mixture formulation, turning frequency and kinetic analysis

Composting is a controlled biological process that converts organic matter into soil conditioner and kinetic modelling is necessary to design the composting system. The aims of this study are to determine the optimum compost mixture and turning frequency for food waste and dry leaves composting, as well as to evaluate an elemental kinetic model based on volatile solids (VS). The elemental kinetics of the process were determined using pseudo zero-, first-, second- and n-order equations. Three different feedstock mixtures were used, namely 40% FW (Mix A), 60% FW (Mix B) and 80% FW (Mix C). Four sets of experiments (TF for every 0, 1, 3, and 5 days) were conducted to investigate the turning frequency (TF). The composting process was carried out in a compost bottle for 40 days. Based on organic matter loss, Mix B and C had the highest OM loss, indicating an acceptable initial compost mixture. The turning frequency of every three days resulted in the highest organic matter loss. Kinetic analysis was performed using coefficient correlation (R2 ), root mean square error (RMSE) and modelling efficiency (EF). Application of the second-order model resulted in good responses for compost mixture Mix B and C. Meanwhile, the n-order model successfully estimated the VS changes for the 3-days TF

Synergistic influence of flame retardant additives and citric acid on the functional properties of rice husk/wood blended particleboards

The selected functional properties of rice husk/wood blended particleboards which include thermal analysis, limiting oxygen index, morphological analysis, and mechanical properties have been investigated. Rice husk/wood particleboards were produced with one step hot press casting technique using citric acid to improve the compatibility in the particleboards with calcium oxide and aluminum oxide as flame retardants. The results showed improvement in the mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and thermal stability with the addition of flame retardants to the particleboards. The aluminum oxide synergy with citric acid in rice husk/wood particleboards gave the best flame retardancy

Composting of food waste in passive aerated bioreactor with turning mode

Almost 45% of municipal solid waste in Malaysia consist of food waste. Composting is one of the sustainable ways to manage food waste compared to incineration and landfilling. This paper investigates the physicochemical and phytotoxicity characteristics during food waste composting in passive aerated bioreactor assisted with compost turning. The initial compost mixture consists of 124 kg of food waste mixed with 62 kg of dry leaves. The composting process was conducted for 40 days, and physicochemical characteristics i.e., temperature, moisture content, total organic carbon, pH and conductivity were monitored. Seed germination test was conducted with cabbage seeds (Brassica oleracea). The highest temperature and final moisture content obtained were 42 °C and 78%, respectively. The seed germination index value was 127%, indicating that the compost is suitable for plant growth