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In the field of paper conservation and archival research, identifying the raw materials of paper is important to elucidate its history and culture. As the most basic element of the raw materials for paper, fibers have not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, we propose a nondestructive method for estimating paper fibers from macro photographs ( $4000\times3000$ pixels) captured using a digital camera. The proposed method consists of background patch (500 pixels per side) detection (BPD), wherein background regions with no text are identified; patch fiber classification (PFC), wherein background patches obtained after BPD are analyzed for fiber classification; and paper fiber estimation (PFE), wherein macro images obtained after PFC are analyzed for fiber estimation. BPD and PFC are employed to perform patch-based classification on segmented macro images, which are reconstructed during PFE to obtain the final fiber estimation results. We performed experiments using 1337 macro images (64176 patches) to evaluate the fiber estimation accuracy for kozo, mitsumata, and gampi via three-fold cross-validation. The average fiber classification accuracy for patch images was observed to be 79.1%; accordingly, the average fiber estimation accuracy for macro images was 85.8%. Experimental results indicated that PFE can be realized in a nondestructive manner on macro images of paper captured using a digital camera.

Traditional sticky rice-lime mortar plays an important role in the restoration of Chinese historical buildings. However, its application in ancient building restoration is restricted due to some shortcomings of lime-based materials such as high shrinkage, low hardness in the early phase, cracking during carbonation, etc. In order to make better use of sticky rice-lime mortar, the research presented in this article evaluates the influence of admixtures (flax fiber, polypropylene fiber, and paper fiber) on the properties of traditional sticky rice-lime mortar by testing compressive and flexural strengths, surface hardness, drying shrinkage, water absorption, freezing-thawing cycles, carbonation degree, and through performing X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results revealed that three types of fibers ameliorated the mechanical strength, anti-shrinkage performance, durability, and microstructure of traditional sticky rice-lime mortar. 1.5% paper fiber was the most effective admixture to increase the mechanical properties and reduce the water absorption rates, and it improved the freeze–thaw cycles by more than 10 times; the incorporation of polypropylene fiber significantly reduced the drying shrinkage rates. In the practice of brick-stone cultural heritage conservation, it is recommended to consider adding paper fibers to improve the comprehensive performance of traditional sticky rice-lime mortar and adding polypropylene fibers to improve shrinkage resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hygroscopic property of paper fiber is used to prepare a bifunctional catalyst. • The impregnation time for preparing the hollow microtubular Ni-MgO-CaO is 1 min. • 94.1 % of hydrogen is stably produced on 5Ni-10MgO-CaO from biogas for 50 cycles. • Only 37.1 % loss of the sorption-enhanced effect is shown during the entire cycle. Sorption-enhanced steam reforming (SESR) process is a promising technology aiming at the production of high purity hydrogen with CO 2 capture. The key to the success of this process is the availability of high-performance bifunctional catalysts. Herein, we develop a hollow microtubular Ni-MgO-CaO bifunctional catalyst with paper fiber as template. Due to the strong hygroscopic properties of paper fibers, it provides a method for the rapid synthesis of catalysts with design components by adsorbing solution. The characterizations indicate that the impregnation time (1 min vs 24 h) has no effect on the structural properties of Ni-MgO-CaO bifunctional catalysts. MgO as an inert spacer can weaken the sintering of CaO to ensure a stable CO 2 uptake. Moreover, the agglomeration of Ni particles is inhibited by the MgO coating on their surface. 5Ni-10MgO-CaO as the best performing catalyst displays high stability for the SESR of biogas (SESRB) reaction, during which 94.1 % purity of hydrogen with a 95.2 % conversion of CH 4 is stably produced and only 37.1 % decrease of sorption-enhanced effect is observed in 50 SESRB-calcination cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimensional stability of paper products is a well-known problem, affecting multiple engineering applications. The macroscopic response of paper to moisture variations is governed by complex mechanisms originating in the material at all length-scales down to the fiber-level. Therefore, a recently-developed method, based on Global Digital Height Correlation of surface topographies is here exploited to measure the full-field hygro-expansion of single fibers, i. e. a surface strain tensor map over the full field of view is obtained as function of time. From the strain field, the longitudinal and transverse hygro-expansion and principle strains can be calculated. Long- and intermediate-duration dynamic tests are conducted on softwood and hardwood fibers. A large spread in the softwood fiber's transverse and longitudinal hygro-expansion coefficient ratio was found, while hardwood fibers behave more consistently. Computing the principle strain ratios reduces this spread, as it takes into account the variations of the deformation direction, which is directly affected by the micro-fibril angle (MFA). Furthermore, long-duration tests allow identification of the half-times at which the fibers equilibrate. Finally, the determined major strain angles for all fibers are consistent with the MFA ranges reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, using a low-cost paper fiber (PF) as a substrate, eigenstate polyaniline–coated PFs with graphene (GO/PANI/PF) ternary materials were synthesized by using the chemical oxidative polymerization method. Electrochemical measurements showed that the GO/PANI/PF electrode exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance compared with the PANI electrode. By adjusting the ratio of PANI and PF, the as-prepared GO/PANI/PF–2.5% electrode exhibited the highest specific capacitance 937 F g−1 at current density 1 A g−1 in a 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution, and 74.5% retention of initial capacitance after 2000 charge–discharge cycles at 5 A g−1. The symmetric capacitor on the basis of GO/PANI/PF nanocomposite delivers a superior energy density of 10.12 Wh kg−1 at 456 W kg−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using organic wastes as agricultural amendments is a productive alternative to disposal in landfills, providing nutrients for plant growth and carbon to build soil organic matter. Despite these benefits, a large fraction of organic waste is sent to landfills. Obstacles to the adoption of wastes as sources of plant nutrients include questions about harmful effects to crops or soils and the wastes' ability to produce satisfactory yields. We compared six organic waste amendments with a mineral fertilizer control (CN) to determine effects on soil quality, soil fertility, crop quality, and crop yield in 2013 and 2014. Waste amendments were applied at a rate sufficient to supply 10,000 kg organic C/ha over two seasons, and mineral fertilizer was applied to control plots to provide 112 kg-N/ha/yr. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replicates and three crops: sweet corn (Zea mays L. cv. Applause, Brocade, and Montauk), butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne cv. JWS 6823), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Eva). Amendment with biosolids/yard waste cocompost (BS), dehydrated restaurant food waste (FW), gelatin manufacturing waste (GW), multisource compost (MS), paper fiber/chicken manure blend (PF), and yard waste compost (YW) did not have a negative impact on soil moisture, bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), or the concentration of heavy metals in soil or plant tissue. Our results indicate potential uses for waste amendments including significantly raising soil pH (MS) and increasing soil organic matter [OM (YW and BS)]. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) of waste amendments was not a reliable predictor of soil inorganic N levels, and only some wastes increased potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) levels relative to the control. Plots amended with BS, FW, and GW produced yields of sweet corn, butternut squash, and potatoes comparable with the control, whereas plots amended with YW, PF, and MS produced lower yields of sweet corn, squash, or both, although yields for potatoes were comparable with the control. In addition, the marketability of potatoes from PF plots was significantly better than that of the control in 2014. None of the wastes evaluated in this study had negative impacts on soil properties, some provided benefits to soil quality, and all produced comparable yields for at least one crop. Our results suggest that all six wastes have potential to be used as sources of plant nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sticky rice–lime mortar is one of the most important technological inventions in the Chinese architectural history. In this work, an experimental study on the application of sticky rice–lime mortar in conservation of the stone tower in the Xiangji Temple was performed by means of the property characterization, SEM, XRD and DSC-TG analysis. Our Results indicate that paper fiber is the most effective admixture to endure freezing–thawing cycles and increase the compressive strength of sticky rice–lime mortar, and the use of aluminum sulfate reduces the drying shrinkage values and increases the compressive strength because of the formation of ettringite in sticky rice–lime mortar. It is suggested that 6% aluminum sulfate or 3% paper fiber may be the appropriate admixture of sticky rice–lime mortar in conservation of cultural relics. Based on the results of laboratory experiment, the sticky rice–lime mortar with 3% paper fiber is selected as the grouting material for the conservation of the Xiangji Temple tower. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Deinking is an important step in recycling of waste paper and flotation is commonly used in this process. By studying the interaction between added surfactant and the solid surfaces of ink pigment and pulp, the fundamental mechanism of flotation deinking can be better understood. In this work, the adsorption of two anionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS and sodium octanoate, C8) on both a model ink (hydrophobic carbon black) and a model fiber (hydrophilic office paper) was studied. The effect of pH on the SDS adsorption and the co-adsorption of calcium and surfactant on both surfaces also were investigated. The SDS adsorbs on carbon black as a tail-down monolayer (hemimicelle) while on paper fiber as a head-down, head-out bilayer (admicelle). The C8 forms admicelles on both carbon black and paper fiber indicating the stronger interaction of the carboxylate group with the carbon surface than the surfactant sulfate group, causing the C8 to adsorb at higher levels than SDS on carbon black. This helps explain why soaps are used widely as the surfactant in flotation deinking operations. Calcium causes surfactant adsorption to increase on carbon black as it adsorbs between negatively charge surface sites and the anionic head group of the surfactant (bridging) especially at low surfactant levels while not enhancing surfactant adsorption on paper fiber, explaining its activation effect in deinking processes. At high surfactant loadings, increasing surfactant concentration can cause calcium adsorption to decrease (calcium exclusion effect), probably due to covering up of negative adsorption sites on the surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this communication, an interesting effect of mechanically refined cellulosic fiber, obtained from simple commercially available writing paper, has been studied on the foaming reactions of polyurethane based on polyol derived from soy bean oil. Presence of refined cellulosic paper fiber has been observed to have a considerable influence on the density of the foams. Changes in density of different foams have been correlated with the possible chemical structures generated in presence of the fiber, and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic study and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyis has been performed to lend support to possible changes in foaming behavior in presence of refined fiber. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations are in line with the modifications induced by the refined paper fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]