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An awareness of the problems associated with the use of plastics can provide new opportunities for the paper industry. We have to try to enhance the public awareness of the environmental value of papers by using diverse advertising approaches. We have to collaborate to make paper more viable to replace plastics in many uses. The collaboration not only between industry and academia but also between countries and associations is essential to advance the age of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological degradation of documentary heritage is a serious issue faced by libraries, museums and archives as it can lead to paper becoming brittle, fragile and discoloured, resulting in a loss of information. This study investigates the impact of didecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) on the properties of pure or inked paper and the growth of different types of fungi. Three fungi species known for their ability to cause paper biodete-rioration in libraries and museums, Aspergillus clavatus Desm, Penicil-lium paneum Frisvald and Ulocladium chartarum Preuss, were selected for the DDAB salt antifungal activity test. The study measured the pH and degree of polymerization (DP), monitored colour changes and conducted scanning electron microscopy analyses (SEM) to confirm that DDAB can be used as a biocide for fungi on pure or inked paper. The study also investigated the antifungal effect of DDAB on paper treated with different types of ink, including black (iron-gall ink) and brown (copper ink). Didecyldi-methylammonium bromide (DDAB) can be used as a biocide for cleaning and preserving paper documents, with active concentrations of 0.7 and 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biodegradable nanofiltration membrane has been obtained for the processes of water purification from calcium and magnesium cations. The membrane is obtained on a porous paper substrate with a surface layer of cellulose acetate (CA); ethanol is added as a pore former to the polymer solution. It is found that the surface of the membranes is hydrophilic; the total porosity of the membrane is 51%. According to the results of the SEM study, the membrane consists of a paper substrate (90 μm), a porous CA layer (8–10 μm), and a dense CA surface layer (1 μm). The resulting MCA3 membrane has been used for nanofiltration of tap water, where a high retention capacity for calcium and magnesium ions has been shown (77.2% at a specific productivity of 111 dm3/(m2 h)), which is not inferior to the parameters of a commercial nanofiltration membrane. The possibility of natural decomposition of spent membranes in the soil cover was studied in this work. The obtained composite membranes decompose by more than 60% within 24 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper is widely used as a packaging material because it is biodegradable and completely safe for the environment. The use of antimicrobials as a coating on paper can improve its mechanical, optical, physical and antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial packaging suppresses the development of pathogenic microorganisms in order to ensure the safety of the product, extend the shelf life and protect the quality of the product. Giving antibacterial properties to papers and cardboards expands their use in different areas and for different purposes. Antibacterial paper prevents the entry and development of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, mould. Antimicrobials that occur naturally in nature have a number of advantages, as they are considered to pose less risk to the consumer. One of the modern directions in research is the inclusion of different types of active substances in the packaging material, which can give it additional functions, such as elimination of oxygen, moisture, ethylene, ethanol emission, antimicrobial activity and others. The present work aims to obtain plant extracts, their characterization and their surface application on paper. Extracts of Bulgarian herbs St. John's wort, cumin, rosemary, thyme and basil were obtained and characterized and studied. Plant extracts are applied by spraying on the surface of various papers. The antimicrobial effect of treated papers on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied. The results of the analysis of the obtained papers show the possibility of using plant extracts containing biologically active ingredients for the production of papers with barrier properties. The use of plant extracts is a promising and innovative solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop bio-based adhesives that can be used for various packaging papers. In addition to commercial paper samples, papers produced from harmful plant species in Europe, such as Japanese Knotweed and Canadian Goldenrod, were used. In this research, methods were developed to produce bio-based adhesive solutions in combinations of tannic acid, chitosan, and shellac. The results showed that the viscosity and adhesive strength of the adhesives were best in solutions with added tannic acid and shellac. The tensile strength with adhesives of tannic acid and chitosan was 30% better than with commercial adhesives and 23% for combinations of shellac and chitosan. For paper from Japanese Knotweed and Canadian Goldenrod, the most durable adhesive was pure shellac. Because the surface morphology of the invasive plant papers was more open and had numerous pores compared to the commercial papers, the adhesives penetrated the paper structure and filled the voids. There was less adhesive on the surface and the commercial papers achieved better adhesive properties. As expected, the bio-based adhesives also showed an increase in peel strength and exhibited favorable thermal stability. In summary, these physical properties support the use of bio-based adhesives use in different packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small framed display panel holds a selection of paper and media common in works on paper plus a set of Blue Wool Standards. The selection of materials and design of the panel including two types of glazing are presented, and the purpose of the panel as a tool for explaining the effects of light on materials is discussed. At the centre of the panel are watercolour samples prepared using primary colours in mixed washes that illustrate hue shift resulting from selective fading of one colourant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated color measurement systems have become significant components of offset lithographic printing presses for better process control and reduced job waste. Some European press manufacturers are known to offer automated color measurement equipment that is confined to polarized density readings, which is uncommon in US. Introducing polarized densitometry into an environment where unpolarized densitometry is utilized can be problematic. Print professionals are on the lookout for a solution that is evidenced by a recent feature in a post from the IDEAlliance G7 Professionals forum seeking for a methodology to convert polarized to unpolarized readings. The present study applies the Bland–Altman method together with other statistical analyses to determine if a conversion between polarized and unpolarized densitometry can be established within a limited set of parameters. Three spectrodensitometers were used to record densitometric readings of wet and dry process inks on coated and uncoated drawdown proofs. The results showed that coated papers had significantly less variation between instruments compared to uncoated papers. Wet inks had more minor variations compared to dry inks. Furthermore, pure difference values and a Mann–Whitney U test indicated differences between unpolarized and polarized densitometric readings in all cases. Finally, t‐tests performed on the resulting difference data for both unpolarized versus polarized and unpolarized versus predicted polarized that showed fixed bias by means of the computed p‐values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the present research is to examine the effect of progressive deinking and reprinting on the paper properties of inkjet-printed paper. A typical office copy paper was selected as the base paper and printed using an inkjet printer having at least 50 % ink coverage. Thereafter, it was deinked and reprinted thrice, and its paper properties were measured. The paper properties that were measured were roughness, porosity, opacity, brightness, specular gloss, whiteness, bursting strength, tearing resistance, tensile strength, contact angle, deinkability efficiency, visible dirt area, ink elimination factors, and color differences. The results showed that in comparison to the base paper, the progressively deinked and reprinted paper samples showed an increase in roughness, porosity, opacity, tearing resistance, dirt area, and color difference. On the other hand, there was a decrease in brightness, gloss, whiteness, burst strength, tensile strength, contact angle, deinkability efficiency, and ink elimination factors. The experiment shows that the progressively deinked and reprinted papers can be compared to the base paper in the major paper properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel paper multifunctional protective solution was prepared by mixing berberine modified trimethoprimed carboxymethyl cellulose (TMP-DCMC-BBR), KH-791 modified nano-SiO2 (KH791-SiO2) and hydroxypropyl starch phosphate (HPDSP), and the mechanical properties, optical properties, antibacterial properties, aging resistance, acid and alkali resistance of the paper coated with the protective solution were investigated. It is shown that the paper coated with the multifunctional protective liquid showed good mechanical properties, and has little influence on optical properties of the paper. At the same time, it had good antibacterial properties, aging resistance and acid and alkali corrosion resistance, and there is no obvious change in paper appearance, no decolorization and ink diffusion, which is in line with the principle of "repairing the old as the old and keeping the original appearance". Moreover, the compound solution has certain reversibility and can absorb a certain degree of ultraviolet rays, so as to weaken the damage of ultraviolet rays to the paper. It is an ideal multifunctional protective liquid for paper and has broad application prospects in paper protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-wood fibers are projected as fast-growing resources and sustainable alternate materials to reduce deforestation and enhance efficiency in the pulp and paper industry. This paper addressed the paucity of data on the fiber morphological characteristics (Fiber Length, Diameter, Lumen Diameter, and Wall Thickness) and pulping properties (Slenderness Ratio, Rigidity Coefficient, Flexibility Coefficient, Runkel Ratio, Solids Factor, and Luce’s Shape Factor) for Silk Cotton, leaves and stalk of Elephant Grass and Sugarcane Bagasse found in Ghana, especially, as environmental variations may cause differences in regional data. Observed values for the studied parameters were within the suitable range for paper production and differed from those reported for other regions. Elephant Grass (stalk) and Bagasse that had higher values of Fiber Length (4101.42 ± 197.89 and 3960.20 ± 194.35 µm), Diameter (60.03 ± 1.82 and 59.85 ± 1.72 µm), Lumen Diameter (33.33 ± 1.76 and 35.97 ± 1.38 µm), Wall Thickness (13.35 ± 0.83 and 11.94 ± 0.55 µm), Slenderness Ratio (70.8 ± 4.2 and 67.2 ± 3.4), and Flexibility Coefficient (55.7 ± 2.3 and 55.7 ± 2.3) would perform better during paper production. They would exhibit good physico-mechanical properties suitable for manufacturing flexible, high tearing, elastic, dense, smooth, and well-formed papers with high tensile and bursting strengths. Silk Cotton may also produce good papers with low tearing index, well-bonded, rigid, bulky, and coarse textured.

Deacidification is a method used to neutralize acids that can damage paper and provide a buffer to protect paper from the effects of acid from the outside. This research is related to the application of deacidification for archive paper at BBIB Singosari. BBIB Singosari is the Singosari Center for Artificial Insemination (BBIB) and is a technical implementation unit (UPT) of the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health. The purpose of this research is to apply the deacidification process at the BBIB Singosari Center and observe the physical factors which have an effect on preservation efforts. High acidity levels cause damage to archive paper, staining it yellow, and making it brittle. The deacidification process can change the condition of the paper to alkaline. In this experiment, the deacidification process is done by means of brushing and spraying techniques using calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solutions at 0.1% and 1%.

Paper aging and protection processes play an essential function in the preservation of library collections and archives. In this study, some physical-mechanical properties of paper samples from XXth century books (private collections), such as pH acidity, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity, as well as optical properties, such as absolute change in yellowness, were examined before and after treating them with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAp). Accelerated light aging was also evaluated and discussed. The treatment with HAp nanoparticles increased the paper’s pH to slightly alkaline values (approximately pH 8). Washing and treating the paper improved its mechanical properties compared to untreated paper; the tear length increased by 35% and the modulus of elasticity increased by 56%. That the treated and aged samples are more elastic than the original samples demonstrates that HAp nanoparticles consolidated the cellulose fibers. Additionally, particle morphology, size, composition and size distribution were assessed via image analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the ImageJ processing program.

[Ar] تقييم كفاءة الثيمول كاحدى اجراءات الصيانة والترميم تطبيقا على السجلات الورقية المصابة بدار المحفوظات المصرية دار المحفوظات الوطنية المصرية هى ثاني أقدم دار أرشيفية فى العالم من أجل حماية جميع الوثائق والأوراق الأثرية والتاريخية الرسمية من الضياع والسرقة. والدار تمتلئ بنحو 150 مليون وثيقة أثرية وتاريخية رسمية.الا انه وللأسف الشديد اغلب هذه المواد الأثرية قد تعرضت لتدهور بيولوجى مما أدى إلى خسارة كبيرة. ومن هنا تظهر أهمية استخدام مبيدات الفطريات وقد وقع الاختيار على أحد أكثر المبيدات شيوعا فى مجال الاثار وهو «الثيمول» لدراسة مدى كفاءته تجاه الفطريات عند استخدامه بتركيزات مختلفة. هذا إلى جانب دراسة أولوية الحفظ للأرشيف الورقى المكتوب بخط اليد لعقود الزواج «بمحكمة دمياط» لما له من أهمية كبيرة في إبراز معلومات غاية فى الاهمية وثائقيا وذلك بعد تعرضه لعدوى فطرية. استراتيجيات عمليات الترميم والصيانة التى تمت بالدراسة تتم من اجل الحفاظ على هذا الدفتر الورقى من أجل الحفاظ عليه لما يحويه من معلومات أثرية هامة. كما تم استخدام بعض التقنيات الفحوص والتحليل خلال الدراسة وهى: طريقة حيود الأشعة السينية (XRD) للتعرف على الحبر الكربونى، والتحليل الطيفى للأشعة تحت الحمراء (FTIR) لتحديد المادة الرابطة للاحبارالمستخدمة ومدى بلورة السيليلوزالمكون الرئيسى للورق، حيث أظهرت النتائج أن الحبر الأسود المستخدم فلا الوئاثق الورقية بالدفتر عبارة عن كربون وأن المادة الرابطة للحبر هى الصمغ العربي. تم تطبيق عدة خطوات لترميم الدفتر مثل عملية التنظيف، تثبيت الأحبار، فرد الأوراق، إصلاح التمزقات، تدعيم الأجزاء الضعيفة وإزالة الترميمات السابقة غير المناسبة.وعلى هذا تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى إلقاء الضوء على دار المحفوظات الوطنية المصرية وإبراز دورها المهم في حماية وحفظ الوثائق الأثرية والتاريخية فضلا عن تقييم كفاءة الثيمول تجاه الفطريات باستخدام تركيزات مختلفة مع شرح أهم إجراءات الترميم المختارة للدفتر الورقى المكتوب بخط اليد الخاص بعقود الزواج بمحكمة دمياط. [En] The Egyptian National Archives Dar-Elmahfouzat is the second oldest archive house in the world built in order to protect all the official archaeological and historical documents and papers from loss and theft. It possesses about 150 million official archaeological and historical documents. Unfortunately, all these archaeological materials are exposed to biological degradation which results in great loss. Hence the importance of using fungicides. The choice fell on one of the most commonly used in the field “thymol” and its efficiency towards fungi in different concentrations. The author gives the priority of conservation to this important handwritten paper archive of the marriage contracts' of Damietta court, because of their great importance to posterity and to highlight such significant historical data threatened by fungal infection. The specific conservation strategies employed to conserve this paper archive were meant to keep them safe and secure and to give us the important archaeological information that they contain. Also some analytical methods were used here: X-ray diffraction (XRD) method for identifying the carbon ink, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for determining the ink binder and the paper crystallinity. The results revealed that the black ink was carbon and ink binder was Gum Arabic. Different types of conservation processes were used: Cleaning process; fixing the inks; flattening and crease removal; repairing tears and supporting the weaker parts in completion process; and inappropriate previous repairs removal. This study aims to shed light on the Egyptian National Archives Dar-Elmahfouzat and highlight its important role. Also clarifying its importance in protecting and preserving the archaeological and historical documents, explain the thymol efficiency towards fungi in different concentrations and the most important treatment procedures for the selected handwritten paper archive of the marriage contracts of the court of Damietta.

Abstract Focussing on the insulating material of power transformer—cellulose insulation paper, this paper first introduces the basic characteristics and engineering application background of insulation paper. Then, the research progress of improving the mechanical properties, thermal stability and electrical properties of insulation paper by nano modification in recent years is compared, and the promotion mechanism is analysed. In addition, in practical engineering application, the oil–paper composite insulation system composed of insulation paper and insulating oil is used for the internal insulation of oil immersed transformer. Therefore, the influence of modified insulation paper on the performance of oil–paper composite insulation system is analysed. Finally, the newly reported new insulation paper is introduced, and the future development trend of modification of traditional insulation paper is analysed.

Abstract Background The prevalence and death rate arising from malaria infection, and emergence of other diseases showing similar symptoms to malaria require the development of malaria-specific and sensitive devices for its diagnosis. To address this, the design and fabrication of low-cost, rapid, paper-based analytical devices (µPAD) using surface-immobilized aptamers to detect the presence of a recombinant malarial biomarker—Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (rPfLDH)—is reported in this study. Methods Test zones on paper surfaces were created by covalently immobilizing streptavidin to the paper, subsequently attaching biotinylated aptamers to streptavidin. Aptamers selectively bound rPfLDH. The measurement of captured rPfLDH enzyme activity served as the means of detecting this biomarker. Enzyme activity across three replicate sensors was digitally quantified using the colorimetric Malstat assay. Results Screening of several different aptamers reported in the literature showed that aptamers rLDH7 and 2008s immobilized in this manner specifically recognised and captured PfLDH. Using rLDH7, the sensitivity of the µPAD sensor was evaluated and the µPAD sensor was applied for preferential detection of rPfLDH, both in buffered solutions of the protein and in spiked serum and red blood cell lysate samples. In buffered solutions, the test zone of the µPAD sensor exhibited a K D of 24 ± 11 nM and an empirical limit of detection of 17 nM, respectively, a limit similar to commercial antibody-based sensors exposed to rPfLDH. The specific recognition of 133 nM rPfLDH in undiluted serum and blood samples was demonstrated by the µPAD. Conclusion The reported µPAD demonstrates the potential of integrating aptamers into paper-based malarial rapid diagnostic tests. Graphical Abstract The assembly of µPAD sensors using APTEC assay principles for the detection the malarial biomarker, lactate dehydrogenase enzymes from Plasmodium falciparum (PfLDH). The aptamers immobilized at the test zones capture the PfLDH in samples. After washing the unbound sample components from the zones, Malstat assay reagents are added for colour development, proportional to the amount of captured PfLDH.

The pulp and paper manufacturing industry is currently facing sweeping changes due to the fact that supply and demand are dominated by different global players. These changes have significant effects not only on the paper and pulp production of countries but also on world economies thanks to the high level of trade between countries around the world. Based on the historical development of paper, our study examines today’s production around the world economies, shows the latest commercial trends in the paper and pulp trade, and makes a prediction on the effects of the data belonging to this sector on the trade of countries through using panel regression models. According to our results, we determined a significant relationship between the total world paper and cardboard production in Turkey and the European Union and the amount of pulp. On the other hand, a partial relationship was found between the European Union and Turkey’s paper production. In addition, we concluded that the amount of pulp used in paper and cardboard production was the factor causing the total paper production in the European Union and Turkey. In other words, we have established as a result of the analysis that as the amount of pulp used in paper and cardboard production increases, paper and cardboard production also increases at the same rate.

The production of paper is a key component for global civilization. Around 300 million tonnes of paper are produced every day globally, with matured pulpwood being the major contributor. Due to rising demand for paper and the depletion of available wood resources, researchers are now focused on finding alternative non-wood resources that are suitable for pulp and paper production. The current study aims to produce eco-friendly and biodegradable paper using a combination of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) and dried flowers. Water hyacinth is considered as a lignocellulose plant which contains 57% lignocellulose, and dried flower contains 40% cellulose, which is the prime source for paper production. Various sections of water hyacinth, including wet and dry petiole, leaves, and root, were blended with dried flowers through the soda process. Then, the physical properties and FTIR analysis was carried out to identify the quality of the paper produced. The paper produced from root and dried petiole has a lower thickness (1.0 mm and 0.5 mm) than other mix proportions. The opacity of the leaves was found to be 0.5% (light passing) and for the root 0.7% (light passing). Also, the dry petiole and root paper have a good dry tensile strength of 1.30Kpa and 1.20Kpa, respectively. Hence, paper made from dry petiole and root was found to be efficient and suitable for the paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 nanoparticles can improve the electrical performance of oil paper insulation. In this study, 10 nm TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared and dispersed into transformer oil, and then immerse pressboards in it to obtain nanofluid impregnated pressboards (NP). Its thermal aging was accelerated together with the reference sample at 130°C for 36 days. Analyzing the acid value in the oil, polymerization degree, surface topography, AC breakdown strength, surface flashover characteristics and surface potential decay characteristics. It was observed that TiO2 nanoparticles can reduce the acid value and improve AC breakdown strength of oil. However, the degree of polymerization and surface appearance of NP and oil impregnated pressboards (OP) during thermal aging did not differ significantly. During the aging process, the energy level of pressboard surface traps shifted first towards the shallow and then gradually towards the deep. During all the aging stages, the surface flashover voltage of NP was always higher or close to that of OP. The mechanism of TiO2 nanoparticles improving the breakdown and surface flashover characteristics of oil–paper insulation during thermal aging is discussed from the perspective of water molecules and aging by‐products adsorption and introduction of shallow traps by nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of the Screen‐Printed Electrode (SPE) was performed using the graphite ink to print the working (WE) and counter electrodes (CE), and silver/silver chloride path as reference electrode (RE). All the electrodes are printed in a paper substrate using screen‐printing technique. The resulting SPE is characterized using scanning electron microscopy, showing all the ink layer, and subsequently optimized. The paper sample presented the cellulose fibers entanglement, extremely rough, with highly porous network. Then the graphite ink was deposited and the surface became flat, thinner and very smooth. When the silver ink was painted on top of the graphite ink, the spherical silver particles, ranged from 2–3.5 μm in size, were observed. And finally, the silver ink was covered with a AgCl layer and the particle size becomes larger with an irregular sphere‐like phase. The images showed that the layers appear to be homogeneously distributed with good coverage. Then fabrication process was optimized concerning type of paper, the sanding process, the hydrophobic barrier, the electrode design and size. In summary, the optimized values included using the previously sanded matte paper with a mineral spirit layer. The design and size of the electrode were also tested to achieve the best electrochemical performance (design 3 with 3.5 cm). The final SPE was a miniaturized and flexible paper‐based electrochemical electrode. In order to evaluate the electrical properties, the ohmic resistance of each ink was tested using a multimeter and the obtained values were 2.18 kΩ for the graphite ink, 2.27 Ω for the silver ink and 38.33 kΩ for the silver/silver chloride ink. That can indicate the good conductivity of each ink used in the fabrication of the electrode and the correct deposition of Ag/AgCl. Finally, the electrode was used to measure the electrochemical response of K4[Fe(CN)6] in different concentrations. Then a calibration curve was obtained from the voltammograms and a linearity was observed between the current and concentration in the range of 0.50–2.00 mM. That indicates that the SPE has potential to be used as a voltammetric electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing of paper with new functional properties is a current problem today. A method of modifying the surface layer of paper by the partial dissolution of cellulose on its surface is proposed. N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) is proposed for use as a solvent, the regeneration of which provides an environmentally friendly process. It was shown that among the possible hydrate forms of the solvent, the monohydrate and higher-melting forms are optimal for modifying the paper surface. The temperature–time modes of processing were revealed and the weight gain and density increase in the course of modification were estimated. The structural and morphological features of the original and modified paper were studied by X-ray imaging and scanning microscopy. The NMMO surface treatment makes it possible to vary the air permeability of the paper, making it practically non-permeable. The capillary and pore system were radically transformed after the partial dissolution of cellulose and its coagulation, as the formed cellulose film isolates them, which leads to a decrease in surface absorbency. The processing conditions allowing for the optimization of the optical and strength properties of the modified paper samples are revealed. The resulting paper with a modified N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide surface layer can be used for printing valuable documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the storage of celluloid pictures for animation films over half a century, an interleave paper adhered to acrylic paint. The purpose of this study is to establish a methodology to cleanly remove the paper from the paint. A layered film, a replica of the celluloid pictures, adhered with paper was prepared and immersed in water or ethanol. The effect of these solvents on the peeling behavior was investigated using a peel test. The maximum peel force for the dry layered film in was distributed at ~0.5 N, independently of the peel speed. The peel force was significantly reduced after the layered film was immersed in pure water or ethanol. A morphological observation revealed that the dry paper was peeled off via the cohesive failure of the paper. After the layered film was immersed in pure water, the paper was also peeled off via cohesive failure. The layered film immersed in ethanol was peeled off at the paper/paint interface. To clear the effect of the volume change in the paint on peel behavior, the relative volume was determined via image analysis. The relative volume of paint was 1.56 in pure water and 1.37 in ethanol. It can be considered that the large difference in the volume of paint induces a large shear stress at the paint/paper interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Many drugs possess poor bioavailability, and many strategies are available to overcome this issue. In this study, smartFilm technology, i.e., a porous cellulose matrix (paper), in which the active compound can be loaded onto in an amorphous state was utilised for oral administration to improve the solubility and bioactivity of a poorly soluble BSC class IV antibiotic. (2) Methods: Norfloxacin was used as the model drug and loaded into commercially available paper. The resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilms were transformed into smartFilm granules via wet granulation and the resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules were transformed into norfloxacin-loaded tablets made from paper, i.e., smartFilm tablets. The crystalline state of norfloxacin was investigated, as well as the pharmaceutical properties of the granules and the tablets. The bioactivity of the smartFilm tablets was assessed in vitro and ex vivo to determine the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin. The results were compared to a physical mixture tablet that contained non-loaded paper granules and equal amounts of norfloxacin as a crystalline powder. (3) Results: Norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules and norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm tablets contained norfloxacin in an amorphous state, which resulted in an improved and faster release of norfloxacin when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The bioactivity was up to three times higher when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The ex vivo model was demonstrated to be a useful tool that allows for a fast and cost-effective discrimination between "good" and "bad" formulations. It provides realistic physiological conditions and can therefore yield meaningful, additional biopharmaceutical information that cannot be assessed in classical in vitro experiments. (4) Conclusions: smartFilm tablets are a promising, universal, industrially feasible and cost-effective formulation strategy for improved solubility and enhanced bioactivity of poorly soluble drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of self-powered UV photodiode on green substrate is still a challenge. In this study, highly conductive Al doped ZnO (AZO) film was sputter-deposited on paper substrate at room temperature; subsequently, paper-based Schottky photodiodes were successfully fabricated by following Au-ZnO-Al and Au-ZnO-AZO-Al structure designs, respectively. These UV light-based devices operate successfully without external power. Au-ZnO-AZO-Al photodiode shows improved response and faster speed compared to Au-ZnO-Al photodiode. The one-dimensional Poisson simulation results demonstrate that the improvement is attributed to the strong electric field in the ZnO-AZO n-n+ high-low junction, thus, enhancing the collection rate and drifting speed of the photogenerated carriers. In addition, AZO can form favorable ohmic contact with the Al electrodes, further improving the device performance. The photo-response of the paper-based photodiode device shows high reproducibility and stability. Based on these outstanding results, we conclude that these paper-based electronic devices have great potential to replace conventional petroleum-based flexible electronic devices, thus, contributing to the green/sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles dispersed in ethanol or 2-propanol have been proposed for deacidification treatments of cellulose-based supports and are currently adopted by many paper and paintings conservators. There is however a risk inherent in this treatment: the dispersion would acquire a highly alkaline pH in the presence of moisture, absorbed by the dispersing alcohol solvents or by the cellulose-based support. Consequently, conditions of potential risk would be created for the structural integrity of the cellulosic supports, for some organic film-forming materials and some colouring matter. The simple tests conducted in this study clearly demonstrate that this risk is real, and suggest a cautious attitude in evaluating the suitability of these nano-dispersions for the treatment of some works of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Deinking is an important part of paper recycling that involves the removal of ink particles from the paper fibres. This industrial process is important so that the fibres can be recirculated back into paper production, which enables better sustainability as fewer fresh fibres are needed. In this study, we examined five different alternative fibre materials from different agricultural residues and industrial processes for the pilot production of papers. Papers containing fibres from invasive plants (Japanese knotweed), dedicated crops (miscanthus, acacia), agricultural residues (tomato stems), and industrial waste (jute - fibres from coffee bags) were printed with water-based flexo inks and deinked with two separate processes (chemical and enzymes). Mechanical (break and tensile index, breaking length) and optical properties (ISO whiteness, brightness and CIE L*a*b* values) were measured and ink elimination IR700 and deinking efficiency was calculated for the two deinking processes. RESULTS: Enzymatic treatment improved the mechanical properties of deinked pulp in comparison with the classic chemical treatment. Mechanical strength for almost all papers increased slightly (breaking length up to 20% in tomato and jute), and the optical result (brightness) increased similarly for both processes due to the bleaching action of the colour-shaded samples, whereas the deinking efficiency showed mixed results between chemical- and enzyme-type deinking (with chemical achieving better elimination measured at 700 nm) in the typical range of ink elimination values (15-35%) for flexographic inks. This indicates further optimization of the deinking with enzymes is needed due to different alternative fibre compositions and variations of residues in the delignification processes. CONCLUSION: Using a combination of adjusted enzymatic treatment as a precursor for deinking of paper-based packaging materials sourced from alternative fibres showed promising results regarding mechanical properties, whereas the optical properties need to be improved with cellulase optimization or by using mixes of different enzymes. These kinds of paper materials printed with flexo inks were found to be successfully deinkable with the chemical ISO-based deinking protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four major toners are used in the printing industry, cyan, magenta, yellow and black (Key) for making color images on paper. Paper brands suitable for printing have thin mineral/latex coatings, and toners are applied on top of the coating in the printing process. Chemical compositions from toner to toner, as well as from coating to coating, vary according to the needs of the end user. Interactions between the toner and the coating define the final color formation of the images in printing. Hence, it is important to study characteristics and dynamics of toners on coated papers. In this paper, we have used laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS) to provide information on elemental distributions of the toner and the coating layers on three coated papers and the base paper at a sub-micrometer resolution. Ablation crater depth profiles in the three different material layers were converted into metric scale by combining elemental information from the LIBS measurements and optical profilometry. Ablation efficiencies for a toner of 150 nm/pulse, for a coating of approximately 350 nm/pulse and for a base paper of approximately 1 μm at a fluence of 0.6 J/cm2 of an ArF excimer laser were determined. Using these results, the average layer thicknesses of the toner and the coating layers were evaluated. The detailed analysis of the elemental profiles of the two cyan toners studied revealed strong accumulation of silicon and titanium compounds of the toner on the toner–air interface but also on the toner–coating interface, but to a much smaller extent. The observation reveals the significance of toner component diffusion due to substrate–machine interaction in the printing process. Such diffusion processes must have an important role in final color formation of the images in printing. The method developed provides a unique and accurate means to study toner diffusion processes in coated papers under printing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp fibers are among the most abundant and cost effective cellulose source for the fabrication of polymer-cellulose composites. A straightforward method is to impregnate pulp fibers into thermoplastic films by hot press forming. As such, tissue materials made from hard or soft wood lignin-free Kraft fibers are attractive. In this work, we prepared cellulose fiber-polylactic acid (PLA) composite films by impregnating PLA films into a 40 g/m2 tissue paper texture. A PLA film was sandwiched between single and multiple layers of cellulose tissues by hot pressing, forming composite films. Up to 40 wt% cellulose could be incorporated into PLA in this way. The effect of cellulose fiber content on the composite thermomechanical properties has been studied and reported. A natural terpene, limonene, was infused into the cellulose fibers by immersion coating to produce antioxidant composites. Limonene-modified composites demonstrated long-term antioxidant release and activity for three days, verified by 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and free iron ions (Fe2+)/ferrozine chelating assays separately. The short-term (2 h) antioxidant activity of the biocomposites reached 50–70% levels depending on the cellulose fiber concentration for the DPPH and CUPRAC assays but remained lower at 20–55% levels in the metal chelating assay. Due to sustained release of limonene from the composites, at the end of the 5-day period, the iron chelating antioxidant activity of the composites improved reaching 75%, whereas for DPPH and CUPRAC assay, 90% activity was recorded. These biocomposite films can be used in active protective packaging of both food (fruit) and cosmetic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-based materials represent a renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic from fossil resources. Nanopaper is a strong and lightweight material formed from cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Paper and nanopaper have been considered as excellent alternatives to plastics for use in agriculture and for packaging applications. However, common for both paper and nanopaper is their hydrophilic character, and consequently, poor water-resistance properties. ORMOCER®s are a class of inorganic–organic polymers with excellent barrier and protective properties used for a range of coating applications. Here we present ORMOCER®-coated paper and nanopaper. The coated papers and nanopapers are characterized, both in terms of their morphology, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties. We demonstrate that the pressure used during the pressing and drying of paper and nanopaper influence their tear and tensile—properties, and that the morphology of the coated nanopaper differs significantly from that of the coated paper. While the ORMOCER® was impregnated within the porous network of the paper, a well-defined two-layered morphology was obtained with the coated nanopaper. Further, the biodegradability of the nanopaper with and without coating was assessed. The degradation study demonstrated that both the pressure used during the pressing and drying of the nanopaper, and the composition of the ORMOCER®, influenced the rate of degradation. Taken together, ORMOCER®-coated paper and nanopaper are promising for the preparation of materials that are both water-resistant, renewable, and biodegradable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were biopulped using Trametes versicolor, and the resulting biopulp was bleached with xylanase-enzymatic treatments. The biopulping was extensively described using determinations of fiber morphology, color, chemical composition, extractive content, and thermal stability using the structural characteristics determined by XRD and paper properties. The results showed that the chemical and enzymatic treatments shortened the fiber, almost to 50%, and the Kappa index decreased from 27 to 13. Cellulose and holocellulose contents increased from 65% to 74% and from 86% to 91%, respectively, but extractives, lignin (from 12% to 4%), pentosans (from 25% to 14%) and the crystallinity decreased from 58% to 67% in both chemical bleaching and further xylanase-enzymatic processing. Xylanase)enzymatic processing allowed us to obtain whiter (increased lightness color and decreased redness and yellowness tonality) and heavier paper, even though it presented decreased mechanical properties (decreased stress resistance, rupture length, tear resistance and index longitudinal tearing). The xylanase-enzymatic treatment with the best pulping and paper proper)ties is when the biopulp is treated with a xylanase enzyme concentration of 0.04% (w/w). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana stem is a known alternative to wood for the production of pulp and paper. During the production of paper, it is extremely important to save costs and time while at the same time enhancing quality of produced paper. In the present study, paper was developed from banana stem fiber by optimizing its density. Response surface methodology (RSM) using Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to determine optimum blending parameters of the developed papers. The influence of banana stem fiber amount (250-1000 g), water amount (1-2liters) and blending time (5-10 min) on paper density was ana)lyzed using software Stat-Ease 360, Version 13. The optimum conditions of banana stem fiber amount, water amount and blending time to achieve a density of 675.75 g/m3 were determined as 461.83 g, 1.31liters, and 8.53 min, respectively. ANOVA results revealed that the quadratic model best fits the density response, with blending time and banana stem fiber amount as the most significant model terms. Linear effects were more predominant than quadratic and interaction effects. The developed density model was in close agreement with experimental findings with an R² value of 0.9748. Developed paper had cellulosic contents, with volatiles as high as 82.11%wb and 2.11% wb ash composition. Future works on thermal properties of paper are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of release coatings has been increasing in recent years because of their use in various fields. However, commercially available release coatings are regarded as non-recyclable. As a consequence, the repulping of these residues is difficult, and their presence in the recycling stream represents an important source of contamination. One solution to this problem is to use new coating materials that can replace the siliconized backing, provided that these new materials are recyclable. As a solution to this problem, the authors propose the use of alkylated phosphorylated fibers to produce an environmentally friendly and inexpensive release paper. The results show that a surface application of hydrophobic phosphorylated fibers reduces the surface free energy of the paper support, as well as the peel strength, which facilitates the separation of the adhesive tape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical crosslinking is an established method for improving the wet performance of paper. In the chemical crosslinking process, covalent bonds are formed between cellulosic surfaces. The formed intra- and interfiber bonds increase the paper's wet strength and reduce its water absorptivity. The majority of published studies concern crosslinking treatments with glyoxal, citric acid (CA), or with 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). The most severe disadvantage of the crosslinking treatments with glyoxal, CA, and BTCA is that the formed crosslinks make the fibers and the paper more brittle. This downside effect has largely impeded the utilization of crosslinking in paper and paperboard making. In the present study, handsheets made from Nordic bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) were crosslinked with methylated 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (mDMDHEU), which is commonly used in cotton fabric finishing. Similar to using glyoxal and citric acid, crosslinking with mDMDHEU notably increased the handsheet wet strength and decreased the water absorption. Compared to the use of glyoxal or CA, the crosslinking with mDMDHEU did not make the handsheets that brittle. These results suggest that mDMDHEU could be a more viable crosslinking agent for improving the wet performance of paper products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article paper, leather from book cover and metal lock from an 18th century church book were studied. The book was printed during the time of Mihai Constantin Șuțu, with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Moldova, Iacov Stamati. The analytical method used to study the components and the methods of obtaining all the important parts was the non-destructive technique SEM-EDX. The results regarding the used paper showed typical intermeshed cellulose fibers. In the case of leather, due to its advanced state of degradation, it was impossible to determine the type of animal from which the skin was used. The elemental analyses (EDX) of the metal lock indicated that it was made of brass. The results of the study of 18th century parts of the book, gave important information about the way of paper manufacture, the conservation state of the cover and the way that the metal lock was made and the safe way to clean it in the restoration and conservation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the history of the relationship of papermaking and paper to libraries over time. Paper was first made in China and is traditionally considered one of that nation's four greatest inventions, along with gun powder, printing, and the compass. Papermaking was often associated with archives in its early development in China, as well as when it was introduced to Japan, where it came to be a part of some Shinto and Buddhist temples, and later governmental agencies. Under Islam, the availability of paper was linked to increased literacy and growth of libraries. In early modern Europe, before the widespread use of wood in the papermaking process, libraries and archives were part of an "economy of paper" with paper at times being in short supply. In the modern era, the world of papermaking did not intersect much with the world of the library, which made progress with the problem of brittle books, one of its greatest challenges, slow, though recent efforts of government, industry, scientists, and representatives of the library have produced positive results. The damage caused by wood-based paper in libraries was mirrored by the environmental damage caused by wood-based papermaking in communities. The history of papermaking and libraries demonstrates the importance of understanding the technologies which support the library, while also advocating effectively to the representatives of all its sources of support in ways which promote the values of the library and its associated community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Urban Ethnology is the property of Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the global economic issues and environmental pollution, there is a growing interest in research addressing the use of biomasses resulting from agricultural production. One main category of biomass components is lignin, the use of plant waste in the pulp industry being one of the ways in avoiding additional deforestation by suppling inputs for the paper industry. The implementation of a strategy for capitalizing the potential of renewable sources, as, but not limited to, paper production, provides the appropriate framework for decision on renewable alternatives and inclusion in the acquis domains in Romania. The present study analyzed the potential use of waste obtained from field crops, mainly annual, as wheat, sunflower, maize, soy, rape, rye, barley, sorghum, rice, to produce paper. Biomass/waste from field crops is a promising source for paper, primarily because it is renewable and has the potential to exploit over 7 million hectares of arable land, with annual use. The diversity of pedoclimatic conditions in Romania makes possible the cultivation of a wider range of species and, within them, a multitude of varieties and hybrids, with variable amounts of lignocellulosic agricultural waste. In addition, accidental years as 2022, the year with the worst drought in Europe in the last 500 years, reshaped the need of valorizing any available biomass, regardless of the production of the main crop. Our calculations show that for a paper containing 28% of renewable cellulose, with the wheat straws collected from Romania in 2019, 9633.31 thousand tons of paper would have been obtained, with an average per hectare of 2786.62 kg of paper. Our analysis shows the opportunity of using lignocellulosic agricultural waste for use as a raw material for paper production. A throughout analysis is needed in the context of extreme droughts experienced recently, to show which valorization of by-products is the most economically justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet-strength paper production is of great significance due to its prominent importance in everyday consumer activities. Recently, market demands for paper with specific properties and purposes are increasing. Production of these paper types is very challenging for the manufacturer since they have to meet very specific demands. Wet-strength paper products include bags that come in contact with moisture and wet products, hygienic and kitchen towels, paper towels, packaging products (packages for liquids, aseptic dishes, and a variety of packaging for food), and other special purposes items (tea bags, coffee filters, paper money, etc.) Throughout this research, the focus was on the effects a wetstrength agent has on the tensile strength of paper. The wet strength property of paper is the ratio between the strength of paper in the wet and dry state. The strength in the dry state comes from the hydrogen bonds present in natural cellulose, while the strength of paper in the wet state requires waterproof (covalent) bonds created by the use of a wet strength agent. The wet strength agent used is a cationic PAE resin. The aim of the work is to determine the optimal amount of agent needed in relation to the required value of the tensile strength property of the paper. The investigation of these influences was carried out on Semi Extensible Standard Kraft type of paper in Natron-Hayat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: One of the main technological challenges within Circular Economy strategies is to minimize the environmental impact of plastic packaging. In this regard, the use of PHBV films to coat paper sheets represents a highly sustainable strategy to produce food packaging multilayer structures with improved mechanical and barrier properties. This work reports on the development and performance evaluation of newly developed paper sheets coated, on both sides, with thin films of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) for applications of food packaging. For this, PHBV/paper/PHBV multilayers were first prepared by the thermo-sealing technique, optimizing the process variables of temperature and time. Thereafter, the multilayer sheets were characterized in terms of their morphological, optical, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties and compared with equivalent paper structures double coated with high-barrier multilayer films of petrochemical polymers. The results indicated that the double coatings of PHBV successfully improved the mechanical resistance and ductility, protected from moisture, and also reduced the aroma and oxygen permeances of paper, having a minimal effect on its optical and thermal properties. Finally, the compostability of the resultant multilayer sheets was analyzed, confirming that the presence of the PHBV coatings slightly delayed the aerobic biodegradation and disintegration of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on many years of experience, packaging is considered as an inactive barrier that protects materials and goods from environmental factors. The applicability of native chemical additive such as essential oils in wrapping papers can be used in the forms of films, treatments, coatings or others. Essential oils or extracts from different aromatic plants are used as bioactive substances for antimicrobial activity. In this research, lavender essential oil treatment of packaging papers is examined for its inhibition activity under nine microorganisms—two Gram-positive bacteria, three Gram-negative bacteria, two yeast and two fungal strains. The effectiveness of the treatment on the structural and strength indicators of the obtained paper samples is monitored. In detail, a five-day examination is conducted on the antibacterial effectiveness of lavender essential oil treatment. Results indicate that the lavender treatment of the obtained packaging paper is successful and the antifungal effect is more pronounced. The antimicrobial efficiency of paper treated with lavender essential oil is between 60 and 90% in the first two hours after treatment and gradually decreases to 40%–50% at the end of the 120 h period. The lavender essential oil treatment of wrapping paper has a promising perspective for preserving products from microbial spoilage and extending their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were biopulped using Trametes versicolor, and the resulting biopulp was bleached with xylanase-enzymatic treatments. The biopulping was extensively described using determinations of fiber morphology, color, chemical composition, extractive content, and thermal stability using the structural characteristics determined by XRD and paper properties. The results showed that the chemical and enzymatic treatments shortened the fiber, almost to 50%, and the Kappa index decreased from 27 to 13. Cellulose and holocellulose contents increased from 65% to 74% and from 86% to 91%, respectively, but extractives, lignin (from 12% to 4%), pentosans (from 25% to 14%) and the crystallinity decreased from 58% to 67% in both chemical bleaching and further xylanase-enzymatic processing. Xylanase-enzymatic processing allowed us to obtain whiter (increased lightness color and decreased redness and yellowness tonality) and heavier paper, even though it presented decreased mechanical properties (decreased stress resistance, rupture length, tear resistance and index longitudinal tearing). The xylanase-enzymatic treatment with the best pulping and paper properties is when the biopulp is treated with a xylanase enzyme concentration of 0.04% (w/w).

Banana stem is a known alternative to wood for the production of pulp and paper. During the production of paper, it is extremely important to save costs and time while at the same time enhancing quality of produced paper. In the present study, paper was developed from banana stem fiber by optimizing its density. Response surface methodology (RSM) using Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to determine optimum blending parameters of the developed papers. The influence of banana stem fiber amount (250-1000 g), water amount (1-2liters) and blending time (5-10 min) on paper density was analyzed using software Stat-Ease 360, Version 13. The optimum conditions of banana stem fiber amount, water amount and blending time to achieve a density of 675.75 g/m3 were determined as 461.83 g, 1.31liters, and 8.53 min, respectively. ANOVA results revealed that the quadratic model best fits the density response, with blending time and banana stem fiber amount as the most significant model terms. Linear effects were more predominant than quadratic and interaction effects. The developed density model was in close agreement with experimental findings with an R2 value of 0.9748. Developed paper had cellulosic contents, with volatiles as high as 82.11%wb and 2.11%wb ash composition. Future works on thermal properties of paper are encouraged.

Lignocellulosic materials are widely used for food packaging due to their renewable and biodegradable nature. However, their porous and absorptive properties can lead to the uptake and retention of bacteria during food processing, transportation, and storage, which pose a potential risk for outbreaks of foodborne disease. Thus, it is of great importance to understand how bacteria proliferate and survive on lignocellulosic surfaces. The aim of this research was to compare the growth and survivability of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria innocua on bleached and unbleached paper packaging materials. Two different paper materials were fabricated to simulate linerboard from fully bleached and unbleached market pulps and inoculated with each bacterium at high bacterial loads (107 CFU). The bacteria propagated during the first 48 h of incubation and persisted at very high levels (>107 CFU/cm2) for 40 days for all paper and bacterium types. However, the unbleached paper allowed for a greater degree of bacterial growth to occur compared to bleached paper, suspected to be due to the more hydrophobic nature of the unbleached, lignin-containing fibers. Several other considerations may also alter the behavior of bacteria on lignocellulosic materials, such as storage conditions, nutrient availability, and chemical composition of the fibers.

Keywords: Elephant Grass; fiber dimensions; non-wood materials; paper; pulping properties; Silk Cotton; ; ; ; ; ; EN Elephant Grass fiber dimensions non-wood materials paper pulping properties Silk Cotton ZH 9782 9790 9 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction Paper materials are diversely used globally for writing, printing, newspapers, books, boxes, wrapping, napkins, toiletries, among others. According to Lwako, Byaruhanga, and Baptist ([23]), non-wood materials such as fibers obtained from Silk Cotton have been anticipated to be suitable for pulp; nevertheless, some of its technological properties (i.e., fiber dimensions and pulping properties) for paper production are unknown. Fibers from the stalk of Elephant Grass (60.03 ± 1.82 µm) and Bagasse (59.85 ± 1.72 µm) would exhibit higher strength properties compared to Silk Cotton (52.24 ± 1.66 µm) and the leaves of Elephant Grass (42.15 ± 1.17 µm) due to their diameters (Table 1). [Extracted from the article]

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crasspies) was used as a renewable cellulose source to prepare nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). Due to the porous structure and low lignin content of water hyacinth, a 10 min-treatment time using the high-speed homogenization was sufficient to disintegrate nanofibers. The average width of the NFC treated for 40 min was 16.8 nm. With longer treatment times, a slight decrease in thermal stability of NFC was found while no changes in the crystallinity index of NFC were detected. Moreover, paper was formed from NFC with respect to mechanical treatment times. Results showed NFC treated with longer treatment times could prepare the paper with lower pore sizes between adjacent fibrils and porosity, resulting in higher wettability and mechanical properties. The contact angle of the 40 min-treated NFC paper was 36.0° while this contact angle result could not be measured from the samples of 0 min-treated NFC due to occurrence of large pores between fibers. The tensile strength of the NFC paper with 40 min-treatment time was ~18 times stronger than that of the 0 min-treated NFC paper. Mechanical energy consumption of the high-speed homogenization used to disintegrate NFC was also compared to that of the industrial defibrillation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the limitations and potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy applied to the study of cellulosic textile collections The technique helps to differentiate natural fibres according to the content of lignin, pectin, hemicellulose, and wax, although some problematic issues should be considered. The spectral differences derived from the environmental humidity uptake and the plant composition are reviewed and discussed in the light of new experimental data. Diagnostic bands are proposed that can discriminate between different fibres from different plants. The contribution of ageing is also considered, demonstrating that sometimes aged fibres cannot be reliably recognised. In contrast, the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to discriminate between natural and modified fibres is discussed and proven. The best results were obtained when microinvasive ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was coupled with SEM observations. The proposed protocol was tested on microsamples of various cellulosic materials from traditional Japanese samurai armours dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries (Morigi Collection, Museo delle Culture, Lugano, Switzerland). The results facilitated a complete characterisation of the materials and demonstrated that the protocol can be used to study a wide variety of cellulosic materials, including both natural and man-modified fibres, and paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mugla Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Mugla Journal of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The complete valorization of the lignocellulosic fractions plays a fundamental role in biorefineries' sustainability. One of the major challenges is finding technological configurations that allow using cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin simultaneously. Cellulose has been extensively studied, yet, hemicellulose and lignin remain as platforms to be valorized. Sequential pretreatments have shown an opportunity to valorize the latter two components into sugar-rich and lignin-rich fractions. After the sequential pretreatment, a solid fraction enriched in cellulose could still be used for paper production. This work consisted of pretreating wheat straw with a sequential Liquid-Hot-Water/Organosolv, characterizing the respective hemicellulosic sugar and lignin extracts, and evaluating the final cellulose-enriched pulp for papermaking. Different pretreated pulp/cellulose pulp formulations were used for paper production as a proof-of-concept. Tensile strength and bursting pressure of the papers were measured. After pretreatment, the calculated solid composition was 70%wt cellulose, 26%wt hemicellulose, and 4%wt lignin, with extraction yields of 5.1%, 51.3%, and 89.9%, respectively. The tested pulp formulations showed similar tensile index and bursting index values at 10/90 (77.1 Nm/g, 3189 kPa) and 20/80 (63 Nm/g, 2419 kPa) %wt pretreated pulp/pulp when compared to the pulp (77 Nm/g, 4534 kPa). This proof-of-concept of the papermaking showed the potential of the LHW-OS pretreated wheat straw as a replacement for pure cellulose pulp and encourages studying other substitutes such as unbleached pulp or further treating the LHW-OS pretreated wheat straw. In addition, the hemicellulosic sugars and lignin extract can be valorized, indicating an option for developing a biorefinery concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based analytical devices have prominently emerged as a group of diagnostic tools with prospective to eliminate the expensive, time-consuming, and intricate analytical methodologies. Wax printing has been a dominant technique to fabricate hydrophobic patterns on paper for fluid control, but the discontinuation of commercial solid ink printers has begun a genesis of alternate wax patterning strategies. In this study, a simple and rapid fabrication methodology for realizing a 96-well microtiter plate on paper has been developed. The method involves the use of commercially available polystyrene microplates as a stamp for wax patterning. The technique further eradicates the requirement of customized stamps and the step of heating paper substrates for creating wax barriers. Thus, wax stamped paper microplates can be used for a wide range of bioanalytical tests maneuvering reduced generation of non-biodegradable waste, minimal reagent usage, and inexpensive readout strategies. The viability of the fabricated platform has been assessed by colorimetric detection of glutathione using 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine–H2O2 redox system. RGB analysis of the colorimetric response showed a linear concentration range from 0 to 90 µM (R2 = 0.989) along with a detection limit of 28.375 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through porous media with active surfaces takes place in many important applications, such as in cellulose-based materials for packaging. Generally, it is a complex process that combines diffusion with sorption at any time. To date, the data needed to use and validate the mathematical models proposed in literature to describe the mentioned processes are scarce and have not been systematically compiled. As an extension of the model of Ramarao et al. (Dry Technol 21(10):2007–2056, 2003) for the water vapor transport through paper, we propose to describe the transport of VOCs by a nonlinear Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piskunov equation coupled to a partial differential equation (PDE) for the sorption process. The proposed PDE system contains specific material parameters such as diffusion coefficients and adsorption rates as multiplication factors. Although these parameters are essential for solving the PDEs at a given time scale, not all of the required parameters can be directly deduced from experiments, particularly diffusion coefficients and sorption constants. Therefore, we propose to use experimental concentration data, obtained for the migration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) through a stack of paper sheets, to infer the sorption constant. These concentrations are considered as the outcome of a model prediction and are inserted into an inverse boundary problem. We employ Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to find the underlying sorption constant of DMSO on paper from this inverse problem. We illustrate how to practically combine PINN-based calculations with experimental data to obtain trustworthy transport-related material parameters. Finally we verify the obtained parameter by solving the forward migration problem via PINNs and finite element methods on the relevant time scale and show the satisfactory correspondence between the simulation and experimental results. Article Highlights: A mathematical model to describe transport of polar volatile organics through paper is proposed. Based on experimental data, the deep learning method of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) is used to solve the inverse problem of finding the sorption time constant. Solutions for the forward problem are obtained by the standard finite element method (FEM) and PINN methods. These solutions are compared with each other as well as with the experimental data to verify the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]