Production of Composite Fibers from Natural Rubber and Lignin

The interest of natural rubber (NR) product applications have been increased as natural rubber can be obtained from nature and it can be produce into sustainable products. It’s widely used in applications such as tires, wires, latex products, medical devices, and sport components. In this work, the use of electrospinning technique to produce fibers has been carried out because this technique has been proved to be a simple and effective technique for fiber production. This work aimed to study morphology, diameter, and functional group of natural rubber fibers, DPNR fibers, and different loadings of lignin in DPNR/lignin composite fibers produced by electrospinning technique. The condition for electrospun fibers were as following; needle-target distances of 15 cm and flow rate of 2.5 ml/h. The results of deproteinization by urea, SDS solution, and acetone showed protein in NR latex decreased. Moreover, increasing load of lignin resulted in an increase of the diameter of DPNR/lignin composite due to increasing of viscosity of the solution related to increasing of viscoelastic force. Characterizations of these fibers were reported using scanning electron microscopy to examine fibers surface and measure diameter of the fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the functional group of the fibers

Conversion of lignocellulose residue obtained from biorefinery stream to electricity by microbial fuel cell

In general, lignocellulose biorefinery has the main functions to fractionate biomass compositions and convert them to value-added products. However, leftover organic compounds in output streams are mixed with large amounts of wastewater becoming the cost and burden for treatment. Therefore, to close the loop of circular economy, this review paper explores the potential of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as a sustainable and efficient way to convert lignocellulose residue, a byproduct of biorefinery processes, into electricity. Lignocellulose residue is a complex mixture of carbohydrates and lignin that is often difficult to dispose of properly. By using MFCs, this waste material can be converted into valuable energy while reducing the environmental impact of its disposal. The paper covers the different types of MFCs, their working principles, and their potential application in lignocellulose residue conversion. It also discusses the factors that affect the performance of MFCs, including substrate availability, electrode material, and reactor design. Additionally, the paper reviews the current state of research in this area, highlighting recent advances and identifying areas for future exploration. Overall, this review paper demonstrates the promise of MFCs as a sustainable and innovative approach to converting lignocellulose residue into electricity

Design and synthesis of novel proton conducting electrolytes: protogenic liquid crystals and electrospun quaternary ammonium ionomers

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rochester. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2012Highly conductive and durable proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are critical to realizing alternative energy applications including fuel cells, batteries, and photochemical water splitting. A major challenge is to fabricate materials with high ionic conductivity at high operating temperature that can maintain mechanical stability. This thesis investigates (i) the use of liquid crystalline (LC) order to improve anhydrous proton transport, and (ii) the use of electrospinning to form mechanically stable membranes with high ion content. Two novel smectic liquid crystalline (LC) mesogens (Imi-COOH and Imi-DAH) were designed and synthesized with a diacylhydrazine core and a terminal proton-conducting imidazole group. In principle smectic LC ordering may offer proton-conductive pathways between smectic layers while retaining a high level of liquid-like mobility. Imi-COOH forms a smectic LC mesophase and exhibits mesoscopic order up to 230 °C, whereas Imi-DAH exhibits a less ordered nematic phase. Impedance spectroscopy studies indicate that LC ordering combined with acid-base exchange results in significantly higher proton conductivity in Imi-COOH’s LC state (δ ~10-5 S/cm) compared to Imi-DAH (δ ~10-7 S/cm). However, for Imi-DAH and DAH, the imidazole groups are relatively dilute, and LC ordering alone within microscopic polydomains does not result in significantly higher conductivity. The activation energy for proton transport is shown to be higher in the LC state compared to the isotropic liquid. Thermal activation of targeted LCs above their clearing temperature was comparable to that of liquid imidazole (~0.2-0.4 eV) and this energy scale agrees with Grothuss-like proton transport. The second part of this thesis investigates a novel approach to improve mechanical properties of PEMs through electrospinning. A series of quaternary ammonium polysulfone (QAPS) solutions with ion contents, ranging from 0.5-1.7 mmol/g, were electrospun and solvent-cast. With increasing solution concentrations, the electrospun morphology evolved from stretched spheres to uniform bead-free fibers. The as-spun QAPS mats were treated to increase membrane density and to promote 3D fibrous interconnection. Considering their high ion exchange capacities (ICEs), the electrospun membranes exhibited favorable mechanical strength compared to solution-cast films. Future composite membranes, derived from those reported here, may offer low cost, high IEC, and mechanical durability

Study of Mathematical Models in Hot Air Drying of Herbs in Herbal Compress Ball

Herbal compress ball is currently one of important products of Thailand for exporting sales worldwide. It is used in Thai traditional medical treatment and spa to reduce muscle pain and relaxation. This research aimed to generate the mathematical models representing the behaviors of herbs in hot air drying to extend shelf life for exporting sales. Here, six types of herbs, including Prai (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), Soap Pod leaves (Acacia concinna) and Tamarind Leaves (Tamarindus indica Linn.) were dried in different temperature at 60, 70, and 80 °C. Fours drying models, Page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic and Fick's second law equation were applied with experimental data of drying herbs to predict the rate of diffusion of water. The results showed that the Page model is the most suitable model due to the highest decision coefficient (R2) but the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) of the herbs in herbal compress ball was increased with increased the drying temperature. The size of the herb particle translated inversely with effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) value

Study of Mathematical Models in Hot Air Drying of Herbs in Herbal Compress Ball

Herbal compress ball is currently one of important products of Thailand for exporting sales worldwide. It is used in Thai traditional medical treatment and spa to reduce muscle pain and relaxation. This research aimed to generate the mathematical models representing the behaviors of herbs in hot air drying to extend shelf life for exporting sales. Here, six types of herbs, including Prai (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.), Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), Soap Pod leaves (Acacia concinna) and Tamarind Leaves (Tamarindus indica Linn.) were dried in different temperature at 60, 70, and 80 °C. Fours drying models, Page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic and Fick's second law equation were applied with experimental data of drying herbs to predict the rate of diffusion of water. The results showed that the Page model is the most suitable model due to the highest decision coefficient (R2) but the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) of the herbs in herbal compress ball was increased with increased the drying temperature. The size of the herb particle translated inversely with effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) value

Conversion of lignocellulose residue obtained from biorefinery stream to electricity by microbial fuel cell

In general, lignocellulose biorefinery has the main functions to fractionate biomass compositions and convert them to value-added products. However, leftover organic compounds in output streams are mixed with large amounts of wastewater becoming the cost and burden for treatment. Therefore, to close the loop of circular economy, this review paper explores the potential of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as a sustainable and efficient way to convert lignocellulose residue, a byproduct of biorefinery processes, into electricity. Lignocellulose residue is a complex mixture of carbohydrates and lignin that is often difficult to dispose of properly. By using MFCs, this waste material can be converted into valuable energy while reducing the environmental impact of its disposal. The paper covers the different types of MFCs, their working principles, and their potential application in lignocellulose residue conversion. It also discusses the factors that affect the performance of MFCs, including substrate availability, electrode material, and reactor design. Additionally, the paper reviews the current state of research in this area, highlighting recent advances and identifying areas for future exploration. Overall, this review paper demonstrates the promise of MFCs as a sustainable and innovative approach to converting lignocellulose residue into electricity